Zoetermeer School Janitor Sentenced to 7 Years Prison and TBS for Child Abuse and Pornography
A 58-year-old former school janitor, Oskar van der V. from Zoetermeer, has been sentenced to seven years in prison and mandatory psychiatric treatment (TBS) by the court in The Hague. He was convicted of indecent assault and the creation, possession, and distribution of child pornography. The court also prohibited him from working with minors for ten years. Van der V. worked as a janitor at a primary school in Zoetermeer between 2019 and 2025. During this period, he secretly filmed eighteen young girls, seventeen of whom have been identified. The court found that in seven instances, he committed indecent and sexual acts by touching intimate body parts of the girls. He has been ordered to pay €2,000 in damages to the parents of six victims. Additionally, he was convicted for possessing multiple child sex dolls.
Authorities became aware of the case in June of the previous year after receiving information about a user sharing child pornography via the Swiss messaging app Teleguard. The user's IP address led police to Van der V. He claimed his physical contact with the girls was work-related, such as assisting them after accidents or applying plasters. However, he admitted to having sexual intentions while filming, though he argued the touching was separate. The court rejected this, stating he deliberately sought out victims, prolonged interactions, and positioned them for better filming of specific body parts. The court also noted he was repeatedly asked to let others assist girls with changing clothes, but he did not comply.
Van der V. was already undergoing treatment for his pedophilic disorder. Despite his therapist strongly advising against working at a primary school, he ignored the advice, citing the need to avoid losing his benefits. The court found this explanation unconvincing, emphasizing the profound impact of his actions on families and the resulting guilt and uncertainty experienced by parents regarding their children's development. Notably, a mother had previously reported concerns about the janitor to the school in 2022, mentioning her daughter's account of a "master's secret" and a "kiss on the mouth." The school spoke with Van der V. and deemed his explanations satisfactory at the time. The school failed to report the incident to the education inspectorate, a legal requirement for suspected sexual misconduct, and instead conducted its own internal assessment, which the court deemed insufficient. An independent investigation later confirmed the school mishandled the initial complaint.
This case highlights critical systemic failures in child protection protocols within educational institutions. The perpetrator's pre-existing treatment for pedophilia and his disregard for professional advice underscore the challenges in preventing individuals with known risk factors from accessing vulnerable populations. The school's inadequate response to a parent's prior complaint, including failing to make a mandatory report to the education inspectorate, demonstrates a breakdown in governance and due diligence. This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of internal school assessments versus independent oversight and the legal ramifications for institutions that fail to adhere to reporting obligations. Moving forward, strengthening mandatory reporting frameworks, enhancing independent oversight mechanisms, and ensuring robust background checks for personnel in sensitive roles are crucial to prevent future occurrences and rebuild parental trust in educational environments.
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