Moroccan man with dementia found dead after days missing in the Netherlands

In a poignant conclusion to a days-long search, Ahmed, a Moroccan man from Amersfoort, Utrecht, was laid to rest in his hometown of Nador earlier in January. Ahmed had gone missing in the Netherlands on December 23, sparking an extensive search effort.

The 58-year-old, who suffered from dementia and a mental disability, was the focus of a determined search by his family, aided by hundreds of volunteers. Their efforts came to a tragic end on January 2 when a passerby discovered Ahmed's body in the Klein Zwitserland forest area, on the outskirts of Amersfoort.

«It was a hectic, emotional day,» recalled his brother, Abdeslam, reflecting on the funeral. «Life is made of circles; we all have a circle that we complete. For Ahmed, that was on January 2, the day he was found.»

Abdeslam expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support received during the search and at the funeral, where both Muslims and non-Muslims gathered to pay their respects. «I plan to organize a gathering for the volunteers soon as a thank you,» he added, acknowledging the community's solidarity during this difficult time.