Ex-councilor to undergo psych. observation in child sex crime case; Youngest is a baby

A 66-year-old former city councilor from Almere will be admitted to the Pieter Baan Centrum for psychiatric observation after a psychologist and psychiatrist who spoke with him both recommended the step, an Amsterdam court heard Tuesday.

Jan B. is the suspect in a sex crimes case involving at least four children. He faces charges of attempting to rape a 2-year-old girl at an Amsterdam daycare center where he worked as a substitute. He is also being prosecuted for indecently touching a 13-year-old boy who was entrusted to his care in January 2024.

On top of that, B. is also accused of making child pornography images of a 3-year-old boy and a baby. Additionally, the police found what was described as a "baby sex doll" at his home; possession of one is a criminal offense.

Prosecutors said the charges against B. will be expanded to include more offenses. Police are continuing their investigation into nude photographs he allegedly made of nine other children.

B. still must be questioned about new findings from the probe. Those interviews are scheduled for the end of May and the beginning of June, the prosecutor said during the second introductory hearing.

The sex crimes unit expects to finish its investigation by mid-June. The Public Prosecution Service can then add to the formal charges, after which the Pieter Baan Centrum can begin its work.

B. is reportedly cooperating well with investigators. “He himself also really wants to know what is going on with him,” the prosecutor said, adding that there are indications B. has dementia.

Neither B. nor his lawyer appeared in court on Tuesday. Both are expected at the next hearing on the 5th of August.

B. was arrested in late November 2025 in Almere and has been in pretrial detention since then. He served as an Almere city councilor for the 50PLUS party until February 2025. From 2006 to 2010, he was a councilor for the Socialist Party, or SP.