Elderly couple found dead at Dutch holiday park in suspected suicide

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA)—The bodies of an elderly couple, believed to have died by suicide, were found at a holiday park in the southeastern Netherlands, local authorities said Thursday.

Emergency services responded to an alert at around 2.30 pm local time at the Posterbos holiday park in Posterholt, near the city of Roermond, where they found two bodies near a pond, one in the water and the other at the water’s edge, Dutch news broadcaster NOS reported.

Police later examined the couple’s home and quickly determined that “no foul play had taken place.”

Regional broadcaster L1 Nieuws also reported that the victims were a German couple, both over 80, who had lived at the park for decades.

Roerdalen Mayor Monique de Boer-Van Agtmaal said the pair had been undergoing a municipal “care process” because they were living permanently at the holiday park, which is not permitted under local regulations.

She noted there had been “positive contact” with them about a week and a half before the incident.

“They were in need of help and were open to the assistance we offered,” the mayor said, adding that it will likely never be clear whether there is any link between the suspected suicide and the municipality’s strict enforcement policy on permanent residence.

Authorities in Roerdalen have stepped up monitoring of holiday parks and warned residents that stays are limited to six months. Those exceeding the limit may face fines of up to €30,000 (approximately $35,000) and enforcement measures.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing, though emergency services are treating the case as a suicide.