Schiedam man suspected of killing girflriend had active restraining order against him

Police have confirmed media reports that the 34-year-old man from Schiedam who was arrested last week following the discovery of a woman’s body in the Zuid-Holland town was the victim’s partner. They also confirmed that a young child was found in the home where the 36-year-old woman was discovered.

The girl has been "safely placed elsewhere." Police have not disclosed the child’s age. They are continuing to investigate what exactly happened but previously stated that they are treating the case as a criminal matter.

The man had been issued a restraining order just days earlier, police said. He had been barred from entering the home following multiple reports of domestic disputes at the address.

Over the past year, police received several reports of “among other things, arguments” at the residence on Rotterdamsedijk in Schiedam. A spokesperson declined to provide specific details but said that police filed reports with Safe at Home after each incident. Last week, “safety measures” were finally taken, including the restraining order.

Safe at Home cannot share details about the case. However, a spokesperson called a restraining order a severe measure. “When someone is issued a restraining order, we are deeply concerned about the people living in the home.”

Safe at Home can offer supportive conversations, but according to the spokesperson, it is the police who are responsible for enforcing the restraining order. “But you can’t monitor or detain someone 24 hours a day. That makes it very difficult. In Schiedam, you see that the restraining order was not observed.”

Last weekend, relatives of the victim spoke during a march against femicide in Rotterdam. According to them, the woman had been abused for months and had fled multiple times.