Four dead, including three children, after car hits school group in Zeeland

A 19-year-old man has been arrested.

A car struck a group of primary school children cycling on a bike path in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen on Thursday afternoon, killing four people, including three children.

The group — 14 children and two adult supervisors from a primary school on a school camp — was cycling along the N29 when a motorist lost control on a bend and veered onto the bike path, according to NOS.

Two children and one adult supervisor died at the scene. Four other children were taken to nearby hospitals; one later died from their injuries.  

A suspect has been arrested

Police have arrested a 19-year-old man from Hulst in connection with the crash. However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether he was the driver of the vehicle involved.

The municipality of Terneuzen has launched both a police and criminal investigation into the incident, reports NOS.

Messages of grief

The primary school that organised the camp has opened its doors to bereaved parents and staff. 

Prime Minister Rob Jetten and other officials have responded with condolences. Jetten wrote on X that the “horrific news from Zeeland overshadows everything.”

Have you been following the incident in Zeeland? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Feature image:Dreamstime

Accuracy, clarity, and a touch of humour — that’s DutchReview. Read our editorial mission.

Gigi Ann Green
Gigi Ann Green
Gigi is a Slovak-British graduate-to-be in International Justice from Leiden University College. She moved to The Hague in 2023, and despite three years of reciting the UN Charter like a religion, she’s always had more questions than a courtroom could answer. After a summer spent interning at Radio Slovakia International, Gigi is looking for her next journalistic feat. When she’s not newswriting, she’s songwriting at Scheveningen, firmly convinced that living by an admittedly Dutch beach increases your happiness by at least 20%!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related posts

Latest posts

Explosion rocks Amsterdam apartment block, leaving 7 wounded and 400 displaced

A powerful explosion tore through a fitness studio in Amsterdam's Osdorp neighbourhood last night, triggering a massive fire and partially collapsing the building. Emergency services...

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup from the Netherlands with a VPN

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is nearly here, and whether you're cheering for the Netherlands or your home country, there’s a handy way to...

Van hier tot Tokio: a history of Dutch-Japanese relations

Dutch-Japanese relations have a long and interesting history determined by commerce, trade, and war. Here's a glimpse into the 400 years the Netherlands and...

It's happening

Upcoming events