Body of missing four-year-old Belgian boy found in Netherlands

The body of a four-year-old Belgian boy who disappeared last week has been found in the Netherlands, Dutch police have said.

Dean Verberckmoes was reported missing by his family after his babysitter failed to drop him off at his grandparents’ house.

Police said the child’s body was found at Neeltje Jans in Zeeland province on Monday after officers issued an amber alert with the description of the toddler and a photograph.

A 34-year-old man had been earlier detained by police.

The boy was last seen in the Belgian city of Sint Niklaas near Antwerp with a man, identified as Dave De K by Dutch media including the NOS public broadcaster and NL Times.

The child’s mother, Elke Verberckmoes, told Belga he regularly looked after Dean and his younger sister.

Belgian prosecutors told the news agency he was given a 10-year jail sentence in 2010 for abuse which led to the death of a two-year-old. He served eight years and his sentence ended in December 2018.