A family who were reportedly “waiting for the end of time” in a Dutch farmhouse had no contact with the outside world for nine years.
Police found the family, five of whom are aged between 18 and 25-years-old, at a farm in the province of Drenthe after one of them ran away to a nearby village.
Police said they found six people in a small room in the house. They said they may have been there since 2010.
They said they appear to be a father and five children. They have since been examined by a doctor.
A 58-year-old man who was also found in the property was initially believed to be their father; however, authorities have now confirmed that this is not the case.
He has since been arrested. Police said he was a tenant at the property; however, they do not know what his relationship to the family is.
Momenteel is een groot rechercheteam (TGO) bezig met het onderzoek naar de situatie in een woning in Ruinerwold. pic.twitter.com/8ADfBBfz6h
— Politie Drenthe (@poldrenthe) October 15, 2019
RTV Drenthe said the young man ran away from the property and entered a pub in the village of Ruinerwold.
He drank five beers before telling the owner he had run away and needed help.
Bar owner Chris Westerbeek said the young man told him he had brothers and sister on the farm and wanted to end the way they were living.
"He had long hair, a dirty beard; wore old clothes and looked confused,” he said.
“He said he had never been to school and had not been to the barber for nine years."
De Wolden Mayor Roger de Groot said the family were now receiving care in a “safe place.”
He said the mother died years ago before the family moved into the property.
Police said they are investigating all avenues relating the discovery.
We hebben zes meerderjarigen aangetroffen, daar is zorg en aandacht voor. Alle scenario’s staan nog open. Ons onderzoek is in volle gang en meer informatie kunnen we op dit moment niet delen.
— Politie Drenthe (@poldrenthe) October 15, 2019
