Zeeland family fled to Croatia after benefits affair: 'We lived in exile for years'

‍For years, John and Natascha van der Velden were afraid to return to the Netherlands. “As soon as you cross the border, we'll arrest you; I was told by the tax authorities,” says John. It is now clear that the couple was one of the thousands of victims of the benefits affair. “We've been living in exile all these years.”

Arjen Nijmeijer

May 17, 2026, 7:30 PM• Last update: 20:12

Ten years ago, Natascha still has a company. In doing so, she manages all kinds of things at a holiday park. The family with three children can make ends meet in Colijnsplaat. But one day, the owners of the park suddenly terminate the contract. Natascha is accused of fraud, although she has no idea where that allegation comes from. The couple then ends up in what feels like the government's meat grinder.

No help from the tax authorities or courts

John and Natascha seek help from the tax authorities, but they run into a wall. “According to the tax authorities, there was false independence because that holiday park was our only client,” says John. They are going to court to force the park to pay 18,000 euros in arrears. That also comes to nothing.

Dozens of systems

It's only been about three years since the couple thought they knew what happened. “There are dozens of systems in the Netherlands where people are marked,” says John. “Once there is a check mark after your name on a list, you will automatically end up in other systems. And then you quickly lose your rights.” The fact that the tax authorities investigated bogus self-employment could easily lead to allegations of fraud, the couple thinks.

We were told that there was a lot about the surcharges and that children were being taken away from their parents here and there.

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John van der Velden, Victim of the benefits affair

In 2016, this is still not clear. The only thing John and Natascha know is that they run into walls everywhere. The company must stop them. “We went to the childminder agency to stop that too. There we were told that there were lots of things going on around the surcharges and that children were taken away from their parents here and there.” After that warning and the experiences with the tax authorities and the court, they think: out of here.

Natascha and John move with the children to Croatia, where they begin to build a new life. But when they report to the embassy after a few years to renew the children's passports, they are told to contact the tax authorities in the Netherlands. “When I called them, I was suddenly told that I had a debt of 60,000 euros, which I had to pay immediately,” says John.

We think that many more groups of people have been duped by all those government systems that are linked to each other.

John van der Velden, Victim of the benefits affair

In the end, it turned out that months after Natascha's company was disbanded, it was suddenly back on the books as an asset. “No one understands how or why.” But the tax authorities assume that if the company still exists on paper, there is turnover. So tax must be paid. “And once you have such a code after your name, it also goes to all those other systems. So we were suddenly told that we also had to pay back childcare allowance.”

No goodbye to mom

John's income is seized, child benefit is no longer paid. “For years, the five of us had to live on far less than the minimum income. We were afraid to visit family or friends in the Netherlands, I couldn't even say goodbye to my mother when she died.”

In 2021, John and Natascha were recognized as victims of the benefits affair. “We got part of the money back, but not all of it yet.” They are now also members of the Interest Group: Duptured Entrepreneurs, Benefits. This draws attention to entrepreneurs who have lost their business as a result of the benefits affair. “But we think that many more groups of people have been affected by all those government systems that are linked to each other.”

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