Full Breakdown
Ben Saunders, First Winner of *The Voice* of Holland, Found Dead in Dutch Lake
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Discovery of Body
On September 15, Ben Saunders, the 43-year-old singer who won the inaugural season of *The Voice* of Holland, was found dead in the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, a recreational lake on the border of Arnhem South in the Netherlands. Police recovered his body from the water at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time after he had been reported missing earlier that morning.
Background & Context: Rise to Fame and Recent Life
Saunders was born on July 9, 1983 in London and moved to the Netherlands as a child, growing up in Hoorn before settling in Arnhem, where he operated a tattoo parlour. He rose to national prominence in 2011 when he won the first season of *The Voice* of Holland, delivering a standout audition of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” and a finale performance of his original “Kill for a Broken Heart,” which reached No. 4 on the Dutch Top 40. The Dutch series launched the global *The Voice* franchise, later adapted in more than 150 countries.
After his victory, Saunders released two solo albums, returned to tattoo work, and made occasional TV appearances, including the SBS talent show *Avastars* in 2023. Over the years he faced health challenges, a 2016 community-service sentence for assaulting a traffic official, and membership in the outlawed biker club Satudarah, which Dutch authorities have linked to organized crime.
Data & Statistics
- Age at death: 43
- Birthdate: July 9, 1983 (London)
- Date of discovery: September 15 (Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, Arnhem area)
- Time of recovery: ~1:20 p.m. local time
- Family: survived by fiancée Janita Engels, three children, and brother Dean Saunders
Official Statements & Responses
The Police Unit East Netherlands confirmed that a body matching Saunders’s description was found in the lake and that investigators “have ruled out foul play.” The unit also stated that it would not release or comment on personal details of the case. No official cause of death has been announced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My dear little brother passed away today… I have never felt pain like this before… what a terrible day for all of us… We have to learn to live with this, and I hope it is treated with respect…” — Lumen Alamy Dean
- “Dear, special man, my heart is crying! I can't find words for the emptiness you leave behind,” — Marco Borsato, former coach
- “I cannot find words for the void you leave behind. Dear Janita, friends, and family: wishing you so much strength as you cope with this immense loss,” — Marco Borsato, former coach
- “My dear little brother passed away today… I have never experienced pain like what I am feeling right now…. what a terrible day for all of us.. We have to learn to live with this and I hope this will be handled respectfully…,” — Dean Saunders
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All outlets report that police have not identified a cause of death and that foul play is not suspected. No source provides an official medical or forensic conclusion, leaving the exact circumstances of Saunders’s death undisclosed.
What’s Next
Police have indicated that the investigation will continue, but no specific future actions, hearings, or deadlines have been publicly scheduled.