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Marjolein, 38, was last seen at Gouda train station.
Marjolein, 38, was last seen at Gouda train station. - Credit: Politie Gouda / Supplied - License: All Rights Reserved
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missing woman
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City of Rotterdam
Rotterdam police
Rotterdam police station
Monday, 13 January 2025 - 18:46

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Body of missing woman Marjolein found at Rotterdam lake

Those in the Netherlands in life threatening danger should immediately dial 112 for emergencies, and anyone suffering from depression or contemplating suicide can call 113 Zelfmoordpreventie at any time by dialing either 113 or 0800-0113, or by visiting 113.nl.

The body of a 38-year-old woman missing since Thursday was discovered Monday morning in the Kralingse Plas, a lake in Rotterdam, according to Rotterdam police. Authorities confirmed the identity of the deceased, identified as Marjolein, after earlier searches in the adjacent forest led to the discovery of some of her belongings. Foul play has been ruled out, but a cause of death was not revealed.

The body was identified late on Monday afternoon. "A criminal act has been ruled out,” police said. The search had been initiated after Marjolein was reported missing, prompting concerns and community efforts to locate her. Authorities thanked the public for their assistance and the tips provided during the search.

Concern started grow after Marjolein’s partner, Herjan, received a call about their daughter, Esmée. It was already late in the day, but the mother had not yet picked up their daughter from daycare.

Emotionally, December and January are tough times for the family, her brother, Marcel van der Heijden told AD this weekend. His sister battled depression when she was much younger, and Marcel did not think she was seriously troubled in recent months. “It was three years ago at the beginning of January that our mother passed away. Marjolein was pregnant at the time. We also lost our father ten years ago in January. It is always hard around the holidays,” he said.

“She has a lot to live for now. Her daughter is her passion. She has a nice job, loves running, spends a lot of time with her friends. She is a good cook. When I called her to say I was coming over, there was always something delicious waiting for me. A fantastic woman who is always there for everyone, but also someone who often forgets about herself.”

However, he also noted that Marjolein and her partner recently moved, and completed an extensive renovation, and the stress may have been difficult to manage. “The daily routine with a toddler didn’t make it easy either. All those things added together could have been hard on her,” he said. “But I could never have expected in a billion years that she would disappear.”

Further details about the circumstances surrounding the death have not been released by the police. "Our thoughts are with the surviving relatives," police said.

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