Series 1

The Hidden Children of Ruinerwold Farm

BBC Four HD

BBC Four

The Hidden Children of Ruinerwold Farm: Series 1: Episode 1

Documentaries

After escaping the family farm, Israel is reunited with his older brothers and sister.

Episode 1

Factual: Crime & Justice

Factual: Real Life Stories

Released from the dark shadow of their father’s beliefs, a family unravel their existence.

In a quiet Dutch village, a man kept his children hidden from the world. Released from the dark shadow of their father’s beliefs, the family unravel their existence.

In 2019, the Dutch village of Ruinerwold became world news when a hidden family was discovered, living on a secluded farm, after a young man walked into the village pub asking for help. He told police that his father was a self-proclaimed prophet who, believing the world was dangerous, isolated six of his children on the farm, hiding their existence and never sending them to school. As the story broke, it became apparent that three older siblings had already fled the family several years before. These three, together with their younger brother, describe their hidden existence and escape, their father’s faith, the alleged abuse within the family and their remarkable resilience in coming to terms with past trauma.

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The Hidden Children of Ruinerwold Farm: Series 1

A family recount their hidden existence on a Dutch farm.

BBC Four - The Hidden Children of Ruinerwold Farm, Series 1, Episode 1

After escaping the family farm, 24-year-old Israel is reunited with his older brothers, Shin and Edino, and sister Mar Jan. Together they recount their experiences growing up.

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The Hidden Children of Ruinerwold Farm

Series 1

Episode 1

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