Trudy samen met haar zoon, thuis.
Together at home, before the forced admission.

An 82-year-old woman has been taken from her own home, placed at a distance, and cut off from her son, her friends and her regular caregivers. She has since turned 83 — she spent her birthday inside the closed facility. To date, no one has shown why — or on whose authority.

This is a factual, ongoing account of what has happened and of the legal steps being taken, with urgency, to bring Trudy home.

Triptych: Trudy at home at her kitchen table; her escorted departure from her house; alone in a room of the closed facility.
The sixth of July, in three panels — an impression, not photographs.

The facts, plainly stated

  • Trudy van der Zwaan is 83; she turned 83 on 24 July, during her stay in the closed facility.
  • She suffers from severe COPD.
  • She has lived for more than thirty years in her own home in Gouda, which she owns.
  • Until 6 July 2026 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.

Current status as of 25 August 2026 — day 51

  • To this day, the detention order and the medical statement have not been provided to Trudy or the family. On 27 July the municipality confirmed in writing that it will not provide the family with any documents.
  • On 21 August, the legal six-week term of the extended emergency detention expired. The question on what legal title she is now being held is being put to the court.
  • On 21 August, Trudy spoke with her son again: clear and coherent, and sad. She told him that no judge and no lawyer has visited her, and that no one has explained why she is still being held — while the law assigns everyone facing involuntary admission a lawyer free of charge. Her wish is unchanged: out of the closed facility, home or to a place of her own choosing. She now receives her medication when she asks for it. To the request of 7 August to safeguard the daily calling moment, no substantive response has been received.
  • On 25 August, Trudy had her first visit since 27 July: the lifelong friend from the chocolate conversation, carrying the promised bar. She found her alert and visibly glad. Her wish, once more in her own words: out of the closed facility — home, or to a suitable place in Gouda, of her own choosing.
  • People from her immediate circle are recording their observations in signed statements.
  • A legal track is under way; an independent care broker (mantelzorgmakelaar) is involved. On 19 August, the independent client confidant put four questions from the Care and Compulsion Act (Wzd) to the facility about the contact restriction; the facility had until 24 August to answer.
  • What you can do: through the official channels — see the post of 21 August.

Last updated: 25 August 2026. The full account is in the day-by-day updates below.

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.

Now · 25 Aug 2026

Day fifty-one: the promised chocolate

For the first time since 27 July, Trudy had a visitor: the lifelong friend from the chocolate conversation, carrying the promised bar. Alert, glad — and unchanged in her determination: out of the closed facility, home or to a place in Gouda of her own choosing.