Ben Saunders, First-Ever Winner of The Voice, Found Dead in Dutch Lake at 43
Ben Saunders, the singer who won the inaugural season of The Voice of Holland in 2011, was found dead in a recreational lake near Arnhem on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. He was 43.
Dutch police recovered his body from the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time, according to DutchNews.nl. Authorities have ruled out foul play, but a cause of death has not been released.
Family Confirms Death
Saunders’ older brother, Dean Saunders, confirmed the death in an Instagram post on Tuesday evening. ‘My dear little brother passed away today,’ Dean wrote. ‘I have never felt pain like this before. What a terrible day for all of us.’
Dean also asked for privacy and respect for the family. ‘We have to learn to live with this, and I hope it is treated with respect,’ he wrote. ‘Ben had a beautiful family and relatives who love him dearly—and I always will, too. Ben is in my heart, and he will stay there forever.’
The Instagram post can be viewed at https://www.instagram.com/p/DdU64_gMDRC/.
Police Statement
The Police Unit East Netherlands confirmed the discovery of a body in the lake but did not release personal details. ‘We can confirm that a body was found yesterday at a recreational lake of Arnhem and that police have ruled out foul play,’ the police told PEOPLE in an email. ‘We do not release or comment on personal details.’
Saunders had been reported missing earlier on Tuesday morning. A search was launched after a bystander reported seeing a man enter the water and not resurface, according to the Daily Mail.
Career and Rise to Fame
Saunders was born in London and moved to the Netherlands as a child. He grew up in Hoorn before settling in Arnhem, where he later opened a tattoo parlour.
His breakthrough came in 2011 when he won the first season of The Voice of Holland, the original iteration of the global talent show franchise. His audition, a performance of Kings of Leon’s ‘Use Somebody,’ turned three coaches’ chairs within seconds.
His winning song, ‘Kill for a Broken Heart,’ reached No. 4 on the Dutch Top 40. His debut album, ‘You Thought You Knew Me by Now,’ topped the charts in April 2011.
Tributes from the Music Industry
Marco Borsato, a former coach on The Voice of Holland, posted a tribute on Instagram. ‘Dear, special man. My heart cries,’ Borsato wrote, according to NOS. ‘I cannot find words for the emptiness you leave behind.’
Fans also posted messages of condolences on social media. ‘I haven’t really followed him since, but that season of The Voice…he won…was one of the best,’ one fan wrote on Facebook. ‘It is so incredibly sad for his family and friends.’
Later Career and Personal Struggles
Saunders’ musical success declined after 2013. He later took part in the Dutch talent show ‘Avastars’ in 2023, which was cancelled after one season due to low ratings.
In 2015, he was arrested for assaulting a traffic controller in Hoorn. He received a 180-hour community service sentence and was ordered to pay compensation. He also received a separate fine for damaging a café in Landsmeer. Saunders had also been a member of the banned motorcycle club Satudarah.
Despite his personal difficulties, Saunders remained a recognizable figure in the Dutch music scene. His death at age 43 marks the loss of one of the franchise’s most prominent early winners.
Police have not released a cause of death. The family has not announced funeral arrangements.
