Woman's body found in Assen home months after death
Police in Assen discovered the body of a woman last Tuesday, July 15, inside a residence on Oldambtstraat. Authorities believe she may have died several months ago. Her adult daughter, who lived with her, initially prevented officers from entering the home, Dagblad van het Noorden reported.
According to a police spokesperson, there are currently no indications that the woman died as a result of a crime. Investigators are working to determine both the cause and the exact time of death. That process may take several months.
The body was found after Actium, the housing provider, alerted police with concerns about the household. Officers were then able to enter the residence with the daughter’s permission and found the woman deceased.
The police had previously visited the home on May 29, 2024. “At that time, officers spoke with one of the residents,” a police spokesperson said. “There was no immediate reason or legal authority to enter the property.”
Multiple neighbors had reportedly been worried for some time about the well-being of the elderly woman and her daughter. One resident said concerns had already been reported to authorities in May. “We told them we hadn’t seen her in a very long time and suspected she might have died,” the neighbor told Dagblad van het Noorden.
Another neighbor recalled speaking to the daughter on the street and asking about her mother. “She made a dismissive gesture,” the neighbor told the newspaper. Communicating with the daughter was reportedly difficult due to a hearing impairment.
In the front yard of the home, flowers and a card have been placed in memory of the woman. The message on the card suggests the daughter had been caring for her mother but became overwhelmed. “It didn’t have to end like this,” it read.
Police declined to provide the deceased woman’s age but confirmed that the body had been inside the home for a significant period before being discovered. Additional forensic investigation is ongoing.
Actium acknowledged it was familiar with the situation but said it could not comment on individual cases due to privacy laws. A spokesperson did clarify general procedures: “If neighbors raise concerns, we investigate. But we cannot enter a property without permission. If we can’t make contact, we notify police.”
The police spokesperson emphasized that officers also cannot enter a residence without legal grounds. “There has to be a report of a crime, a situation in progress, or an emergency—something that justifies entry. Officers also need authorization from a public prosecutor or similar authority,” the spokesperson said.
Such authorization was not available during the police visit in May, nor was it present on July 15. Entry on the latter date was only possible with the resident’s consent.
