Dutch prosecutors have ordered the release of two teenage boys arrested over the death of a 60-year-old man in Schiedam, saying there is currently insufficient evidence to hold them in custody or to establish a clear causal link between their actions and the fatal outcome.
In a statement published on Monday, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) said the two boys, aged 16 and 17 and both from Schiedam, appeared before an examining magistrate on Thursday in connection with an incident that took place on Jan. 5.
The pair had been suspected of assault and public violence resulting in death. The examining magistrate ordered both suspects to be released.
The incident occurred on Van Limburg Stirumstraat in Schiedam, near the Nieuwland metro station. According to police and witness accounts, the victim had criticized the youths for throwing snowballs at passing vehicles. Witnesses reported the man was then beaten by a group of youths.
The man was struck and knocked to the ground. He later died from his injuries, despite attempts by bystanders to resuscitate him at the scene.
Officers initially arrested two other youths from Rotterdam, but later released them. “Based on witness statements, we arrested two people on Monday, but it turned out they weren’t the ones,” a police spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that CCTV footage later led investigators to the two boys from Schiedam.
The 16-year-old later presented himself at a police station, while the 17-year-old was subsequently arrested at his home. Dutch law prevented authorities from releasing further identifying details about the suspects because of their age.
According to the prosecution service, the 17-year-old was released because of what it described as his limited role in the incident. The 16-year-old was released because the examining magistrate found that there was “insufficient evidence that the suspect’s actions led to the victim’s death.”
De 60-jarige opa die in Schiedam vermoord werd door ijsballengooiers, heette Berry.
RIP 😪❤️ pic.twitter.com/9UWQQCWV9r
— Lou Lewinsky 2 (@lewinskylou2) January 9, 2026“The precise events leading up to the incident are part of the ongoing investigation,” the OM said. It added that the victim’s body had been examined by the Netherlands Forensic Institute, and that it had become clear that “the victim’s fragile health may have played a role in this tragic outcome.”
In the days since the incident, flowers and cards have been left at the scene. One card from the victim’s daughter read, “As special as the snow fell, so special was your departure, Dad.” Another message said, “I’m proud of you, Dad. I love you so much! Love, your (big) little girl.” A separate card read, “Thank you for your help and the laughs. You were always there for us. Thank you, Berry.”
Schiedam’s mayor, Harald Bergmann, said in a statement that the violence had his “full attention.” He added, “Like everyone in Schiedam, I am angry and saddened by the senseless violence that has taken place in our city. My thoughts go out to the families of the victims, for whom this year has begun very sadly.”
