Dutch man faces 10 years jail, psychiatric care for online abuse of Filipino children

A 52-year-old man from Ter Aar, Eric van K., faces a potential ten-year prison sentence and mandatory psychiatric care at a TBS facility for the "long-term and grave" online sexual abuse of young children in the Philippines. On Wednesday, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) detailed a pattern of abuse spanning several years, labeling the crimes as some of the most serious offenses of their kind.

The case against Van K. originated in 2024, when he was identified during a large-scale investigation led by American authorities. After the U.S. flagged his activities to Dutch police, a raid on his home on May 8, 2025, led to the seizure of several items, including a computer.

After examining the device, it was revealed that Van K. had frequent contact with so-called "facilitators" in the Philippines, who were often the mothers of the victims. At his request, they abused very young girls; according to the prosecution, the suspect had extreme demands and was highly coercive in his instructions.

One of these facilitators has been sentenced to 90 years in prison in the Philippines. The OM has asked the court to allow her two abused daughters to qualify for compensation from the Netherlands through a special measure.

Van K. has been in detention since his arrest in August. His lawyer says he has been moved multiple times due to serious threats from other prisoners.

The suspect claimed he was addicted to sex, saying this caused him not to reflect on his actions. When questioned about the impact of his abuse on the victims, he admitted, “Sometimes you could see that they were powerless and had no control.” Experts have diagnosed him with a pedophilic disorder.

The prosecution states that Van K. spent more than 15,000 euros on remote abuse, making roughly 500 separate payments.

“Little girls were forced to appear naked on camera and subjected to extreme sexual acts,” the prosecutor said. “All because a wealthy older white man from the Netherlands paid for it and derived pleasure from it. The suspect has left these girls permanently traumatized.”

The prosecutor stressed that the abuse “is just as serious, whether the victims are in the Philippines or in the suspect’s local area in the Netherlands. A girl’s life in the Philippines is no less valuable than a girl’s life in the Netherlands.”

The verdict in the case is scheduled for February 4.