Almere TBS clinic director suspended amid ongoing misconduct
One of the directors of the Forensic Psychiatric Center Oostvaarderskliniek in Almere has been suspended following continued unrest at the clinic, according to a letter from the Ministry of Justice and Security to the Tweede Kamer. The intervention was carried out by the Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI), which overseas the clinic.
A DJI spokesperson told De Telegraaf that “based on internal discussions, one of the two directors has been placed on non-active status.” The director in question is Ellis Tillema-Van Loo, who became the general director in June 2023. Currently, the clinic is managed by interim administrators and the remaining director.
The suspension adds a new chapter to a long history of incidents and misconduct at the closed psychiatric facility, which treats patients who have committed serious crimes.
Over the past two years, the clinic has been in the news repeatedly for unauthorized relationships between staff and patients. The facility has also faced issues with high workloads, drug smuggling, and drug-related deaths. Patients have filed complaints about poor care and boundary violations. At one point, the clinic imposed a temporary admission stop. There have also been incidents of property destruction, violence, and threats. Additionally, one patient filed a police report against another for sexual abuse.
Because of these issues, inspections, external experts, and consultancy agencies have repeatedly visited the clinic. In 2025, the facility was placed under supervision by DJI, a significant measure.
