Singer voices pain after court rejects prosecution in Voice of Holland abuse case
The Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal’s decision not to prosecute former Voice of Holland bandleader Jeroen Rietbergen for sexual misconduct has left singer Nienke Wijnhoven grappling with a mix of pain and resolution, according to RTL.
Wijnhoven, who was a contestant on the show’s eighth season, accused Rietbergen of rape and fought for legal action through an Article 12 procedure after the Public Prosecution Service (OM) dropped charges against him in May 2024, citing insufficient evidence.
In a heartfelt statement posted on Instagram, Wijnhoven said the court ruling “pains” her but clarified it was not because her truth was disbelieved. “The OM did believe me, and that I carry with me,” she wrote. She emphasized the importance of victims feeling “seen and heard when standing against injustice."
The 27-year-old singer reflected on how the ordeal changed her life profoundly. “Not only because of what happened, but especially everything that came after,” she wrote. “It has touched me, shaped me, and sometimes broken me. Yet I have stood firm — for myself and for my daughter.”
Wijnhoven said she shared her story out of conviction, not for attention or anger, but driven by a sense of justice. “Because some things must not remain silent. Because I hoped speaking out could set something in motion.”
“What remains is the space I now have to create — for processing, for peace, for a future where this can have its place.” She vowed to "keep using her voice, not in struggle, but from trust, hoping to help build a world where young people, women, men, everyone, can grow safely and speak freely without fear."
The court concluded there was no realistic chance of conviction, ending hopes for prosecution. Rietbergen, who admitted to inappropriate sexual behavior in the past but denied criminal acts, called the decision a relief.
