Disappearance in the Netherlands
A fourteen-year-old boy has been missing for almost two weeks in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn. Maxim ran away on his own initiative and may go to Russia, police said. His family is in disarray. “They want to embrace him again soon.”
Sven Van Malderen
Journalist at HLN
Source: AD
Maxim’s loved ones are shocked. They did not see the teenager’s drastic journey coming at all. “This came as a complete surprise to them,” reports a spokesperson for On behalf of the Family. This aid organization is part of Victim Support Netherlands and maintains contact with the media in the event of major incidents.
According to the spokesman, there was nothing serious going on at home that explains his departure. There were no significant problems within the family. For privacy reasons, no further details are given about this.
“No golden tip yet”
“The family hopes to welcome Maxim back into their arms soon,” the spokesperson said. In the initial phase they searched with all their might for the boy, but they have now left that to the police. Potentially interesting information comes in from different angles. “But the golden tip is not there yet.”
The police initially distributed a photo of Maxim with a full head of hair. But there are now indications that he has shaved his hair. With the help of artificial intelligence, the search team released a new photo of what Maxim should look like now.
“No contact whatsoever”
It is not clear at this time whether Maxim took a mobile phone with him. “In any case, there has been no contact with him whatsoever,” the spokesperson said.
Maxim’s secondary school has been aware of the situation for some time. “Everyone hopes that Maxim will return home safely. Fortunately, the family is receiving a lot of support from friends at the moment.”
“Well prepared”
The teenager left Apeldoorn with his bicycle on Saturday, April 18. The police suspect that he crossed the border via Twente. Although he left with few belongings, officers assume that he prepared his trip well.
Because there is no clue for the time being, there are no major, targeted searches abroad yet. The German and Polish police did share his investigation report. It is taken into account that Maxim exchanged his bicycle for another means of transport along the way.
Gray ladies bicycle
It is not clear why the boy would specifically want to go to Russia. “It is always worrying when a teenager stays away on his own for so long. That is also why we are so keenly on the lookout for him,” says police spokesperson Sven Strijbosch.
When Maxim was last seen, he was wearing black sneakers, a black jacket and Nike sweatpants. He also had a red or orange backpack with him. The boy is between 1.50 and 1.60 meters tall and left on a gray women’s bicycle from the Stella brand.
