Father gets 16 years for sexual and physical abuse of daughters; Mother gets 10 months
A 61-year-old man from Apeldoorn, F.W., was sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexually abusing and physically abusing his four daughters over more than two decades, beginning when they were young. His 59-year-old wife, H.M., was sentenced to 10 months for participating in the abuse but was acquitted of sexual abuse charges due to insufficient evidence.
Both parents were convicted of physical abuse. The public prosecutor described their household as “very closed and religious.” The children endured being locked in the basement, hit with hands or objects such as a Bible, pinched, placed under cold showers, and set outside in child seats. Most of the abuse was carried out by F.W. under the instruction or encouragement of H.M., though she also physically assaulted the children herself.
The couple’s four sons were subjected to similar abuse but did not file complaints; their statements nevertheless contributed to the convictions.
The court found ample evidence to convict F.W. of sexual abuse. One daughter reported witnessing her father sexually abuse a sister in their shared bedroom. Other witnesses confirmed his inappropriate behavior, and app messages corroborated portions of the daughters’ accounts.
H.M. was acquitted of sexual abuse because the testimony of two accusing daughters was not used, another daughter did not accuse her, and the oldest daughter’s reliable statements lacked supporting evidence. Both parents were prohibited from contacting their daughters and are subject to a location ban.
The girls filed separate complaints in 2018, 2021, and 2023, describing years of sexual abuse and physical maltreatment. In one case, abuse continued even after a daughter was placed outside the home.
Three of the daughters sought damages. The court largely approved their claims, awarding compensation for pain and suffering—ranging from 28,500 to 35,000 euros for sexual abuse and 7,500 euros for physical abuse—as well as material costs for study delays, treatment-related travel, and health insurance deductibles.
During the trial, the parents’ lawyers argued that their right to cross-examine witnesses had been violated. The court acknowledged that the questioning rights were partially breached but ruled that sufficient compensation had been provided, allowing the daughters’ testimony to remain as evidence.
Experts, including a forensic psychologist and the National Expertise Group for Special Sexual Cases, assessed the reliability of the daughters’ statements. The court concluded that the testimony was largely consistent and credible. Some later statements, however, may have been influenced by sibling discussions, potentially creating false memories. Those portions were excluded from evidence.
The court emphasized the profound impact on the victims. “A safe home with the protection of a father and mother was never experienced,” the ruling said. “F.W. placed his own sexual needs above the children, and the abuse seemed normal to both parents. Their failure to protect the children is weighed heavily.”
F.W. and H.M. underwent psychological evaluations, which did not influence sentencing or suggest mandatory treatment. For F.W., the court considered the severity, frequency, and duration of the sexual abuse, citing guidelines for single instances of rape, typically punished with two years in prison. Given the sustained and extensive abuse, the court imposed 16 years.
For H.M., the court cited the nature, severity, frequency, and consequences of her abuse. Despite her acquittal on sexual charges and previously clean record, the court ruled that an unconditional prison sentence was appropriate, sentencing her to 10 months.
A court spokesperson explained that the mother’s sentence was lower than the 10-year prosecution demand because she was acquitted of sexual abuse, and the most severe acts of violence, such as throwing boiling water, striking with a hot poker, or hitting with a Bible, were not proven. Standard penalties for assault would start at a 500 euro fine, but the sustained abuse across multiple children led the court to impose 10 months’ imprisonment.
The public prosecutor has two weeks to decide whether to appeal the verdict.
