Ben Saunders, the pioneering artist who secured victory in the first-ever season of the global “The Voice” franchise, has passed away at 43. Saunders rose to fame in 2011 after winning the inaugural season of “The Voice of Holland,” the Dutch competition that served as the blueprint for the international series and NBC’s popular U.S. version.
The singer’s body was discovered on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, a popular recreational lake located in Elst near the border of Arnhem South in the Netherlands. Local authorities had been alerted to his disappearance earlier that morning. Police confirmed the recovery of his body at 1:20 p.m. local time after conducting a search for a 43-year-old male matching his physical description, including his tattoos and beard.
While an official cause of death remains pending, law enforcement officials have stated that they do not suspect foul play. Requests for further comment regarding the ongoing investigation were directed to the Netherlands Police.
News of the loss prompted an outpouring of grief from his inner circle and collaborators. His brother, Dean Saunders, confirmed the tragedy through an emotional Instagram post that included a childhood photograph. Reflecting on the profound loss, Dean expressed that he had never encountered such immense pain, noting that his brother leaves behind a loving family and would be cherished in his heart forever. He also posted a memorial message on the account for their shared business, Tattoo Saunders, declaring that Ben would never be forgotten.
Marco Borsato, who served as a coach on the original Dutch season of the show, also paid tribute to the late performer. Sharing a photograph of the pair together on stage, Borsato expressed deep sorrow for the emptiness left behind and offered support to Ben’s fiancée, Janita, and the rest of his loved ones. In a separate post, Borsato shared a moving video of Saunders performing his song “Dochters” (Daughters), accompanied by symbols of mourning.
Born in London, Saunders relocated to the Netherlands during his childhood. His career breakthrough occurred in 2010 when he performed a cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” during his audition for the competition. His performance solidified his path to winning the series.
Saunders achieved commercial success following his television win. His finale performance of the original track “Kill for a Broken Heart” climbed to No. 4 on the Dutch Top 40 charts. The song was featured on his chart-topping debut album, “You Thought You Knew Me By Now,” which was released in April 2011. The report also notes that reached out to the Netherlands Police for comment. The report also notes that my dear little brother passed away today… I have never experienced pain like what I am feeling right now…. what a terrible day for all of us. The report also notes that dear, special man, my heart is crying.