The facts, plainly stated

• Trudy van der Zwaan is 82 years old and turns 83 this month.
• She suffers from severe COPD.
• She has lived for more than thirty years in her own home in Gouda, which she owns.
• Until this week she lived there independently, with daily support from family, friends and regular caregivers.
• Her son had arranged, on his own initiative and at his own expense, a dedicated caregiver who came several times a week for more than three years — for the household, for fresh meals, and as a trusted, listening presence.
• On 6 July 2026, during a planned meeting, she asked for more care at home — not less.
• That same morning she was taken from her home against her will and placed in a closed facility, far away.
• Her son has spoken with her by phone every day for more than ten years and is closely involved in her care and wellbeing; where needed, he had arranged full care coverage through her dedicated caregiver and other care workers. He was not informed, not consulted and not heard beforehand.
• Since then, all contact runs through one appointed person; her phone has been taken.
• On 10 July 2026 a court hearing took place, without her son or Trudy herself being summoned to it.
• To this day, no one has shown the family on what grounds, or on whose authority, all of this happened.

These are facts. We draw no conclusions and name no names — that is for the court. On the basis of these facts, the reader can form their own judgement.