Ben Saunders, winner of the first season of The Voice of Holland, has died at the age of 43.According to People magazine, De Telegraaf, a Dutch daily, reported that his body was recovered at 1:20 pm on September 15 from the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen. It is a recreational lake situated in Elst on the southern border of Arnhem, in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe Police Unit East Netherlands told People magazine:“We can confirm that a body was found yesterday at a recreational lake of Arnhem and that police have ruled out foul play. We do not release or comment on personal details.”Saunders was a London-born Dutch singer who came into the spotlight after his big victory in the inaugural season of The Voice of Holland in 2011. His win was followed by his hit single Kill for a Broken Heart and his debut chart-topping album, You Thought You Knew Me by Now.Continue reading for more details.What we know as “The Voice of Holland” winner Ben Saunders dies at 43 The tragic death of The Voice of Holland winner Ben Saunders has shocked his fans, family and colleagues.According to reports, Saunders was reported missing on the morning when his body was recovered from the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen. Police have not released the cause of death.Born on July 9, 1983, in London, Saunders was raised by English parents in Hoorn, Netherlands. He grew up with his two brothers, Dean and Jamie. He was widely recognized for his heavily tattooed appearance when he won the first season of the Dutch series, The Voice of Holland.The show premiered in 2010 and became an instant sensation, inspiring adaptations worldwide. His blind audition of Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody was a standout moment, which paved the way for the release of his debut album. He later appeared on the SBS talent competition Avastars in 2023.In recent years, Ben Saunders worked as a professional tattoo artist. He ran his business, a tattoo parlor, in Arnhem, Netherlands. He had over 25 years of experience in the trade. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostBen Saunders’ older brother Dean Saunders announced his death through an Instagram tribute. He shared a picture of them from their childhood, writing in the caption:“My dear little brother passed away today. What a terrible day for all of us. We have to learn to live with this and I hope this will be handled respectfully... Ben had a beautiful family and a family that loves him very much and always will… Ben is in my heart and he will stay there forever.”In another tribute on the Tattoo Saunders page, Dean shared a recent photograph of himself with Ben Saunders, and wrote:“Rest in peace my little brother. Ben Saunders will never be forgotten.”The Saunders brothers share a long history in music. They started performing together in a band called Follow That Dream in the early 2000s. Shortly after his brother’s victory, Dean won the third season of the Dutch reality singing show Popstars in January 2011. He won the judges' hearts with the single You and I Both.Earlier this year, Saunders said that he had suffered several financial setbacks due to a decline in his music career but wanted to continue with music. In a February 2026 interview with LINDA.nl, he said:“I’m still releasing new singles and there are plans for an album.”He added that he and his daughter were making music together and that she will release her first single soon. Ben shares a 9-year-old son, Benji, with Janita and two more children from previous relationships.Dutch News reported that he faced health issues over the years and also made headlines for wrong reasons. This included a 2016 community service sentence for abusing a traffic official. The news outlet stated that Saunders was a member of the biker club Satudarah, which reportedly has ties to “organized violence and drug dealing.”These circumstances forced him to sell his house and move to a trailer with his partner on a campsite in Arnhem. He also dealt with health problems caused by hernias.Saunders is survived by his fiancée, Janita Engels, and his three children.