He waited for the end of the world with his six children in a cellar for years: "They did not know that other people existed"

World

Discovered by chance, the family had no contact with the outside world.

Dutch police made an astonishing discovery on Monday in a small farm in Ruinerwold, Drenthe province. The warning was given when a 25-year-old man showed up in a confused corner cafe. Arriving at the man's home, the police discovered behind a cupboard a staircase leading to a cellar. In it was a 58-year-old man who was bedridden with a stroke a few years ago. But also his five other children, aged 16 to 25 years. They were waiting for "the end of the world", according to the Dutch media.

The family managed to stay alive with a vegetable garden and a goat. They seemed to wait for "the end of the world" and had no contact with the outside world anymore, according to the local RTV Drenthe channel. So much so that they did not know that other people existed. The neighbors thought that the man was living alone.

The father, who is not collaborating with the investigators, has been arrested. The rest of the family was taken to a center for further investigation. There is no trace of the mother. According to several Dutch media, quoted by HLN, it is possible that it is buried somewhere in the property. "We still have many unanswered questions," the police said.