In May 2019, the Netherlands was shaken by the shocking case of Thijs H., a 27-year-old student who murdered three innocent dog walkers — two on the Brunssummerheide and one in Scheveningen.
What led him to commit such horrific crimes? And how did the justice system handle a case where psychosis and accountability collided?
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we take a detailed look at one of the most disturbing true crime cases in Dutch history. You’ll hear how police connected the murders, what Thijs H. revealed in his chilling confession, and how his mental state became the center of a nationwide debate about responsibility, treatment, and justice.
🎙️ The Lowest Crime is a true crime podcast trying to bringing real-life stories about true crime cases from the Netherlands.
#TrueCrime #TheLowestCrime #ThijsH #DutchTrueCrime #BrunssummerheideMurders #ScheveningenMurders #NetherlandsCrime #TrueCrimePodcast
If you want to support The Lowest Crime and get early access to episodes, occasional bonus content, and behind-the-scenes updates, you can find my Patreon at patreon.com/thelowestcrime.
In 1995, 15-year-old Nicole van den Hurk vanished on her way to work in Eindhoven. Her disappearance shocked the Netherlands, but the case went cold for more than a decade—until a series of DNA breakthroughs exposed the shocking truth.
In this episode, we retrace the investigation step by step: the early theories, the missteps, the public appeals, the controversial DNA evidence, and the dramatic courtroom battles that ultimately led to a conviction.
This is the full story of one of the Netherlands’ most debated murder cases.
NOTE:
In 2011, Nicole van den Hurk’s stepbrother posted a message on Facebook in which he claimed to be his sister’s killer. Following this post, he was arrested in England (where he was living at the time), but he was later released due to a lack of evidence.I chose not to include a detailed account of this confession in the video. I have seen multiple videos on YouTube portray it as a heroic act to renew attention and reopen the case. However, the available Dutch sources I could find do not clearly establish his motives. I have heard interviews with him in which he states he did do it to renew the case but also other confusing and somewhat contradictory interviews. I did find that, in later statements, he also accused his father of being responsible and claimed that Nicole was pregnant by her father at the time of her death, serious allegations that I do not know to be ever proven.Because of these inconsistencies and uncertainties, I felt it was more responsible to mention his brief status as a suspect without presenting the confession itself or speculating about his intentions. Since, in the end, it was clear that Jos de G. was the perpetrator, I kept that as the main focus of the story.
If you want to support The Lowest Crime and get early access to episodes, occasional bonus content, and behind-the-scenes updates, you can find my Patreon at patreon.com/thelowestcrime.
A sandwich, a sudden collapse, and a toxicology result no one saw coming.
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we unravel the shocking real case of 30-year-old Judith Notermans, whose ordinary workday ended in a medical mystery that quickly spiralled into a homicide investigation. A murder known as the "Pindakaasmoord" or "Peanut Butter Murder".
What began as an unexplained death soon revealed a hidden poison, a calculated plan, and a boyfriend with secrets far darker than anyone imagined.
We walk through every verified detail of the case—from the hospital’s frantic search for answers, to the discovery of cyanide, to Bart’s chilling confession involving sodium azide, and the courtroom revelations that stunned both family and investigators.
If you want to support The Lowest Crime and get early access to episodes, occasional bonus content, and behind-the-scenes updates, you can find my Patreon at patreon.com/thelowestcrime.
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we examine the cold case of Herman Ploegstra, who disappeared after a routine workout. His abandoned car held puzzling clues, and even with modern forensic techniques, the mystery remains unsolved. We talk though the investigation, the evidence, and the unanswered questions in one of Zeeland’s most haunting cold cases.
If you want to support The Lowest Crime and get early access to episodes, occasional bonus content, and behind-the-scenes updates, you can find my Patreon at patreon.com/thelowestcrime.
Hi everyone! Just a quick update: I’m taking a short break from uploading new content, but I’ll be back on December 1st with a brand new episode.
For now, I’ve decided to focus solely on well-researched audio episodes, so I won’t be uploading any video content for now. This doesn’t mean video is gone forever, but for now, my priority is providing you with quality, factual storytelling.
Thanks so much for your understanding — I can’t wait to be back with more true crime stories soon!
In June 2006, a car veered off a narrow country road and sank into a muddy canal in Middelie, North Holland. Caroline was found drowned. Her husband, Michel B., survived—and was later convicted of her murder. But questions still linger.
Known as the Moddermoord, or Mud Murder, this case has haunted the Dutch legal system for years. Was this a tragic accident, or a carefully staged crime?
Today we'll examine one of the most debated cases in Dutch true crime history!
#MudMurder #Moddermoord #DutchTrueCrime #MichelB #Caroline #TrueCrimePodcast #NetherlandsCrime #CanalDeath #UnsolvedMystery #WrongfulConviction
On February 19th, 2009, 19-year-old Hungarian sex worker Betty Szabó was found brutally murdered in her workroom in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Just three months after giving birth to her son, Betty’s life was cut short in a killing marked by shocking violence.
Despite an extensive investigation, countless witness interviews, and modern forensic techniques, no one has ever been convicted of her murder. Over the years, police have reopened the case, even using groundbreaking campaigns like a 3D hologram of Betty to appeal for new witnesses. Yet the question remains: who killed Betty Szabó?
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we retrace Betty’s story, the investigation that followed, and the haunting questions that continue to surround one of the most disturbing unsolved murders in the Netherlands.
⚠️ Listener discretion is advised: this episode contains descriptions of extreme physical violence.
On May 13, 2000, the Dutch city of Enschede was struck by disaster when the SE Fireworks storage site exploded. The blast killed 23 people, injured nearly 1,000 others, and destroyed an entire neighborhood within seconds. Known as the Vuurwerkramp, or Fireworks Disaster, it remains one of the deadliest tragedies in modern Dutch history. In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we take you back to that day, tracing how the fire started, how the explosions unfolded, and how survivors experienced the chaos. We also explore the investigation, lawsuits, and political fallout that followed, and why questions about responsibility and accountability continue to linger more than two decades later. This is the story of a catastrophe that reshaped Dutch safety regulations and left an indelible mark on Enschede and the Netherlands as a whole.
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we delve into the chilling details of the 2024 Almelo crossbow attack. We'll talk about the timeline of events, the motives behind the assault, and the aftermath of the horrifying attack that shook Almelo. With insights into the investigation, survivor testimonies, and legal developments, we'll delve deep into one of the most shocking crimes in recent Dutch history.
On Christmas Day 1990, the body of a young girl was found wrapped in blankets and discarded in a forest near Teteringen, Netherlands. To this day, her identity remains unknown—and her murder unsolved. In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we explore the heartbreaking mystery of het Meisje van Teteringen. Who was she? What went wrong? And why has no one come forward?
We dive into the story of how she was found, the forensic details, and new leads in one of the most haunting cold cases in Dutch criminal history.
On March 18, 2019, the city of Utrecht was shaken to its core when a gunman opened fire inside a tram at 24 Oktoberplein. Within minutes, four people were dead and several others seriously wounded. We'll talk about the horrifying moments during the shooting, and the manhunt that followed.
Join us as we explore every detail of this tragic case—from eyewitness accounts to the courtroom verdict.
⚠️ Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and trauma related to a terrorist attack. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we discuss one of the most controversial miscarriages of justice in Dutch history: the case of Lucia de Berk. Once labeled "The Angel of Death," Lucia was a pediatric nurse accused of killing multiple patients under her care. We talk about her journey from respected nurse to convicted serial killer—and the grave miscarriage of justice that lay beneath it all.
In this disturbing episode of The Lowest Crime, we investigate the chilling case of Michel Stokx — a convicted Dutch serial killer who preyed on children. His crimes in the late 1990s horrified the Netherlands and left lasting scars on the nation.
We dive into the timeline of events, the psychological profile of Stokx, the investigation that led to his arrest, and the legal and social aftermath of his actions.
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of crimes against children, including murder and abuse. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we explore the heartbreaking and controversial case of 13-year-old Anass Aouragh, whose body was found under suspicious circumstances in a forest near Wassenaar in 2013. Officially ruled a suicide, Anass’ death has continued to raise serious questions about the thoroughness of the investigation, unexplained injuries, and conflicting forensic evidence.
Was Anass a victim of suicide after bullying? Or could this have been a case of foul play that was too quickly dismissed? Is this actually a cold case?
⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses the death of a minor, suicide, and potential foul play.
📷 Visit @TheLowestCrime on Instagram for photos and case-related visuals.
📞 If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact 113 Suicide Prevention at 113.nl or call 0800-0113 in the Netherlands. In the U.S., reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
On April 9, 2011, Tristan van der Vlis carried out a devastating mass shooting at the Ridderhof shopping center in Alphen aan den Rijn. Within just three minutes, six people were killed, seventeen others injured, and the shooter ended his own life.
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we examen who Tristan van der Vlis was, how he legally obtained firearms despite a severe psychiatric history, and what went wrong in the systems meant to protect the public. With eyewitness testimonies, survivor stories, and a look at the legal and emotional aftermath, this episode revisits one of the most tragic events in recent Dutch history.
👉 Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of mass violence, trauma, and suicide.
📸 For related case images, visit The Lowest Crime Instagram.
Het Heulmeisje remains one of the Netherlands' most haunting unsolved cold cases. Discovered near a Dutch highway in 1976, her identity and the circumstances of her death have puzzled investigators for decades. In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we follow the decades-long investigation, marked by missteps, misidentifications, and the relentless search for answers. Explore the challenges of solving cross-border cold cases in this detailed analysis of her enduring mystery.
On December 7, 2024, a devastating explosion rocked a residential building in The Hague, leaving six people dead, many injured, and a community forever changed. In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we uncover the investigation into what initially appeared to be a tragic accident but turned out to be a deliberate act of revenge.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses violence, death, and loss.
In part 2 of our true crime series on Willem van Eijk, the Beast of Harkstede, we dive into the harrowing continuation of his story. After his shocking trial and conviction for brutal murders that left the Netherlands in fear, van Eijk was granted early release, only to resume his deadly spree. This episode examines how the justice system’s failure allowed a convicted killer to slip back into society, leaving behind a new trail of victims. Join me as we uncover the chilling details of van Eijk’s early release, his marriage, and his return to violent crime that haunted a community.
Side Note: You might notice my voice sounds a little different this episode, as I'm recovering from a recent cold—thank you for bearing with me!
Also, due to personal circumstances, this will be the last episode for a bit. I will upload again as soon as I’m able!
In this episode, part 1 of a 2-part true crime series, we delve into the chilling case of Willem van Eijk, infamously known as the Beast of Harkstede, or Beest van Harkstede in Dutch. The story begins with the shocking murder of 15-year-old Cora Mantel, whose body was discovered in a quiet Dutch town, sending shockwaves across the Netherlands. Despite a thorough investigation, the case went cold, leaving the community in fear and uncertainty.
Years later, another brutal murder reignited those fears, sparking new concerns about the possibility of a serial killer on the loose. In this first episode, we uncover the horrifying details of Willem van Eijk’s early killings, his initial arrest, and the dark secrets that began to emerge.
But this is just the start of a very twisted true crime story—stay tuned for part 2.
In this episode of The Lowest Crime, we explore the notorious "Parachute Murder" case. In 2006, experienced skydiver Els van Doren tragically died when both her parachutes failed during a jump in Belgium. What appeared to be a tragic accident soon turned into a gripping criminal investigation involving sabotage, jealousy, and a tangled love triangle. Join us as we uncover the shocking details of the investigation and the high-profile trial that captured international attention.
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