It appears that children were being physically and mentally abused for years at a children's home in the eastern Dutch town of Nieuwleusen. Three people have filed charges with the police, according to a local paper.

According to the police report, between 1984 and 2010, children were allegedly punished by being beaten with sticks, being forced to sleep in a drafty hallway or even outside in bad weather. Some children were allegedly forced to take cold showers. There are also allegations that children were tied to chairs and publicly harassed and humiliated. Some of the children may have also been sexually abused.

A woman, who acted as foster mother, has been accused of committing most of the alleged crimes. The home is in an orthodox Christian community in the municipality of Staphorst. The organisation charged with supervising the foster home, received various signals that there were problems, but did not intervene.

(dcf/nc)

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