Prayer healer who claims to cure cancer, homosexuality, and autism arrested in Tilburg
Controversial prayer healer Tom de Wal was arrested Friday evening in Tilburg after holding a prohibited healing service at the Praise Church. A day later, he appeared in Eindhoven, preaching publicly amid protests.
De Wal was initially scheduled to conduct a healing service at the Van der Valk Hotel in Eindhoven on Friday, but the hotel canceled the event, likely due to anticipated demonstrations. He then moved the gathering to the Praise Church in Tilburg. The municipality had banned the service because the location lacked the required event permit, and tickets had already been sold.
"It was an event, and no event permit had been granted," a Tilburg municipal representative informed Omroep Brabant. Retired criminal lawyer Pieter van der Kruijs of Den Bosch agreed, noting that “he was in violation. He had no permit for his event. And even if it was later held on the street, it was still an event. It is not relevant whether it was inside or outside the church.”
Despite the ban, De Wal began the service. Police cordoned off the area and entered the church, asking him to stop. According to authorities, he complied inside but continued the service outside with attendees. De Wal was arrested around 6:45 p.m. while he was outside talking to Omroep Brabant. He was questioned at the police station and released around 9:45 p.m., receiving a citation for violating the municipal ordinance. The public prosecutor has not yet determined the exact fine. Van der Kruijs does not expect further legal action, stating, “The Public Prosecution Service will not bring this case before the court.”
Footage from De Wal’s organization, Frontrunners Ministries, shows him inside the church urging attendees to cooperate if police attempted to clear the service. Outside, he continued the gathering until his arrest. Demonstrators, including LGBTIQ+ advocacy groups, were present, protesting his claims that he could heal diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis, as well as “cure” homosexuality and remove “demons” linked to autism and other conditions.
De Wal criticized the police intervention, saying, “It is bizarre and unconstitutional what happened. The police apparently have the authority to enter a church service. People had tickets yesterday, but they were free. It was therefore not an event.”
On Saturday morning, De Wal reappeared at the center of Eindhoven, at 18 Septemberplein, with roughly 100 followers. Using a microphone, he preached and conducted prayers while demonstrators jeered and waved rainbow flags. Organizations including Queer040, Eindhoven Pride, and the Dolle Mina’s, along with city council members from the local PvdA, were present. The service included public “healings” administered by his associates.
During the demonstration, De Wal addressed the controversy over his statements about homosexuality, telling reporters, “I have never done conversion therapy; that has been fabricated by the media.” He declined to comment on his previous claims, labeling homosexuality as a disease.
Authorities in Eindhoven allowed the gathering to proceed because it took place outdoors and was not classified as a formal event. De Wal reportedly planned to announce the creation of a church community in Brabant in the afternoon, a presentation originally intended for the Van der Valk Hotel event.
