Man, six children rescued from Netherlands basement after nine years' 'waiting for the end of time'

The Dutch farm where the six young adults and their father were found. Photo / News.com.au

A man and six young adults have been discovered after apparently living for nine years in a cellar on a remote Dutch farm, waiting "for the end of time", according to Dutch media.

Police spokeswoman Nathalie Schubart confirmed to RTV Drenthe that a 58-year-old man had been arrested, and that six young adults were discovered in a "shut-off space" on the farm in Ruinerwold, Drenthe.

She would not confirm the relation between the people or describe the conditions they were found in or their state of health for privacy reasons, apart from to say that they had been brought to a safe location.

The alarm was sounded at the weekend by the barman at a local bar, when an unkempt 25-year-old came to his bar "confused" on Sunday. Café owner Chris Westerbeek told RTV Drenthe.

"The first time I saw him I sent him away but a few days later he came back. Last week he came in and ordered a few beers but we were going to shut. Last Sunday he ordered five beers and drank them. Then I talked to him. He said that he had run away and needed help. Then we called in the police."

Dutch media reported that the children apparently had no contact with the outside world and lived on a vegetable garden and several animals on the farm.

The older man was reportedly ill in bed after having had a stroke several years ago. According to RTV Drenthe, the children had no contact with the outside world, and neighbours had no knowledge of them at all.

Local news station RTV Drenthe, which first reported the story, said the family "have been living in a basement for years, waiting for the 'end of times'." Some of those freed "had no idea that other people existed," the station added.

The farm is hidden behind trees, and difficult to see from the main road.

Roger de Groot, mayor of the village of Ruinerwold, told a press conference that the man arrested was not the father of the young adults, aged between 18 and 25.

He added that their mother is thought to have died before they moved there around nine years ago and some of the children were not officially registered.

"I have never before been involved in such an extraordinary situation," he said. "A man has been arrested by the police and his role is being investigated. Our first thought is of course for the people found in the home. The family is in a safe place, getting care and attention, and they need rest.

"I understand that there are still a lot of questions, and we have them too. The police is investigating many scenarios and we cannot share any more about them at the moment. We are focusing on caring for the family."

On its Twitter feed, the Drenthe police force said that it was investigating the situation with a forensic search of the farmhouse, a study of the area and neighbourhood, and mapping the entire hidden-away location with the help of a drone.

The force is also talking to the people discovered on the farm, although earlier reports said the man arrested was not co-operating.

Mr Westerbeek, the cafe owner, added that the man talked in a "child-like" way, had long hair and a straggly beard, old clothes and said he had been inside for nine years.

"Later he said he had a brother and sisters who lived in the farm. He was the oldest and wanted to make an end to the way they were living."