Thirty years after the Dutroux affair: a look back at a national trauma
This year marks exactly thirty years since the Dutroux affair came to light. This event left a deep impression on Belgian society and changed the country forever. The trauma of the kidnappings and the subsequent discoveries caused an enormous shockwave that is still felt to this day.
In the nineties, the case held the entire country in its grip. The discovery of the crimes led to great unrest and many questions about the functioning of the police and the judiciary at that time. The population responded with massive protests, such as the well-known White March, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets to demand justice for the victims.
The Dutroux affair led to significant reforms within the Belgian police and justice system. It was decided at the time to integrate the various police services into a single federal police force, with the aim of improving cooperation and efficiency. The way in which missing children and victim support are handled has also changed fundamentally since then.
Although much has changed over the past three decades, the memory of this period remains a painful chapter in Belgian history. It is a moment when the country collectively reflected on the safety of children and trust in the government. Even today, the story remains an important topic of conversation in the media and in society.