Four women before court over séance at children’s graves
The Utrecht court is hearing the case concerning a paranormal gathering at Rusthof cemetery in 2021.
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Four women will appear before the Midden-Nederland District Court on Wednesday on suspicion of desecrating graves during a paranormal session at Rusthof cemetery near Amersfoort. According to regional reports, the gathering took place more than five years ago at, among other places, children’s graves and led to dozens of reports from bereaved relatives.
According to public reports, six people gathered at Rusthof in September 2021 to try to make contact with deceased people. Equipment was used and recordings were made. The gathering came to light after a parent found a camera at a grave.
The Public Prosecution Service is prosecuting four women because, according to prosecutors, they played an active role in activities around the graves. The two other people present are not being prosecuted. The women are suspects; the court must still assess whether their conduct legally constitutes desecration of graves.
The case began with reports from parents and other bereaved relatives. According to local reports, the number of reports rose to 58. Bereaved relatives say that the incident continues to have consequences and hope to gain more clarity during the proceedings about exactly what happened.
The legal question is whether the activities fall under the criminal provision concerning desecration of graves. According to reports, no graves were damaged and, as far as is known, no objects were taken. According to the Public Prosecution Service, that does not rule out the possibility that criminal acts were committed.
The court must assess whether the suspects are guilty of desecrating graves. No judgment on guilt has yet been delivered.
The hearing attracted considerable attention from bereaved relatives and regional media on Wednesday. The sources consulted do not state when the court will deliver its judgment.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Four women are on trial for their possible role in a paranormal gathering at Rusthof cemetery.
- The gathering took place in 2021 and led to reports from bereaved relatives.
- The court must assess whether the alleged activities constitute the criminal offence of desecrating graves.
Left
Arguments Generally emphasises that bereaved relatives deserve protection against the use of vulnerable places without their consent, and that institutions should apply clear public rules.
Values Protection of vulnerable groups, human dignity and public responsibility.
Consequences Warns of lasting damage to trust when cemeteries are inadequately protected or oversight falls short.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises a careful individual assessment: public outrage is understandable, but criminal-law boundaries must be clear and demonstrable.
Values The rule of law, proportionality and institutional diligence.
Consequences Wants clear rules and oversight, while also seeking to prevent unusual beliefs from being criminalised without concrete criminal conduct.
Right
Arguments Primarily emphasises the inviolability of property, order and the tranquillity of cemeteries, and believes violations should be punished consistently.
Values Respect for tradition, authority, order and responsibility for one’s own actions.
Consequences Fears that a restrained response will lead to the erosion of standards and less protection for graves and bereaved relatives.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is supported by current regional reporting and an earlier NOS report on the prosecution. Legal guilt and the court’s precise assessment are explicitly presented as uncertain.
- confirmed Four women are appearing in court on 28 October 2026 in the case concerning a paranormal session at Rusthof. — Current regional reporting states that the hearing is taking place on 28 October 2026. source
- confirmed The session took place in September 2021. — This is stated in the earlier NOS report on the prosecution. source
- confirmed Fifty-eight people filed reports. — Leusderkrant mentions 58 reports. source
- confirmed The women are suspects and have not yet been found guilty. — This follows from the ongoing criminal case and is legally accurate wording. source
Editor's note
It is certain that four women are appearing in court today and that the case concerns a paranormal session from 2021. The precise activities and their legal assessment remain disputed; no judgment was yet available.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „grafschennis rusthof”
- NU.nl — „grafschennis rusthof”
- De Telegraaf — „grafschennis rusthof”