Belgian man arrested in Germany for attempted rape of woman on Amsterdam night bus
A 21-year-old Belgian man suspected of raping a woman in Amsterdam last summer was arrested in Germany and returned to the Netherlands on Friday, the OM reported. A Dutch examining magistrate placed the man in custody on Monday.
The attack occurred in the early hours of June 20, 2025, in the Louis Couperusbuurt neighborhood of Nieuw-West. The victim, a young woman, boarded a night bus home around 2:30 a.m. A man later entered the bus, appearing relaxed and chatting with the driver, but he was reportedly secretly observing the woman.
After she exited at Burgemeester Fockstraat, the suspect followed her. While the woman remained on the phone with a friend, hoping the man would leave, he hid behind a planter to continue stalking her. At the end of Burgemeester Fockstraat, she realized he was still following her and turned onto Burgemeester van Tienhovengracht, where the suspect attacked.
“[He] grabbed her by the throat and attempted sexual acts,” the Amsterdam police said. The woman screamed, alerting nearby residents, who intervened, letting the suspect flee. After losing contact, her friend dialed 112.
Investigators initially examined hours of surveillance footage without identifying the attacker. A public appeal in October, including the release of a suspect photo, generated crucial tips that led to his international identification.
Police described the man’s appearance at the time as light-skinned, wearing a light-colored shirt, a dark vest with a Canada Goose logo or similar graphic, blue jeans, and white sneakers, and carrying a dark duffle bag. He was located in December under a European arrest warrant. Dutch prosecutors anticipate a lengthy prison sentence.
