The body of a missing 4-year-old Belgian child found in the Netherlands

The vast search operation carried out by the Belgian and Dutch police did not make it possible to find the child alive. Dutch police discovered Monday evening the body of a Belgian child who disappeared five days ago, following a probable kidnapping.

The body of 4-year-old Dean Verberckmoes was found in the province of Zeeland (southern Netherlands), after a man was arrested earlier in the country in connection with the case. “We thank all those who have helped us and send our condolences to his family”, Dutch police said in a statement. She said the child was found on Neeltje Jans, an artificial island in the Eastern Scheldt, a popular destination for Dutch tourists.

An abduction alert had been triggered earlier in the day. It was issued after the arrest of a 34-year-old Belgian in the town of Meerkerk, about 120 kilometers northeast of Neeltje Jans. The victim was last seen last Wednesday in the company of this man, according to public television NOS.

The suspected kidnapper regularly took care of Dean and his little sister, the child’s mother told the Belga news agency. He was supposed to take the child to his grandparents on Thursday, but Dean never got there. His mother then reported him missing.

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