Dutch girls sexually assaulted on school trip to Belgium

Twelve girls from the Rythovious College in Eersel, Noord-Brabant were sexually assaulted by four boys from the Belgian high school Den Brandt while on a school trip to the Technopolis Museum in Mechelen. The girls pressed charges with the Belgian police, AD reports.

According to the girls, the four boys intimidated and molested them in the museum around noon. This happened in the ladies restrooms and in some exhibition spaces. They touched the girls on their breasts and buttocks.

Three of the four buses from Eersel returned home with pupils on Tuesday afternoon. The fourth remained in Mechelen so that the girls could talk to the police. Both victims and perpetrators were questioned in the museum.

"We regret this terrible incident very much", a spokesperson for the museum said to AD.

Chrit Nelissen, acting rector of Ruthovius College, confirmed the incident. "Our chaperones received signals that they found so serious that they, together with the museum staff, informed the police. I am very pleased with the adequate conduct of our employees." he said. "Our focus is primarily on proper help for the victims and informing parents and students."

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. But the Technopolis museum already banned the boys from returning.