Ben Saunders, First Winner of The Voice of Holland, Found Dead at 43

Ben Saunders, who won the inaugural season of The Voice of Holland in 2011 and carried his victory single to the top of the Dutch charts, was found dead on Monday near Arnhem. He was 43. No cause of death has been publicly disclosed.

Found at a Lake

Saunders had been reported missing earlier in the day before his body was discovered at Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, a recreational lake in the Arnhem region, on September 15. Authorities said the body was recovered around 1:20 p.m. local time. Dutch police confirmed foul play has been ruled out, though the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation. No further details about what led to his disappearance were released.

The First Voice Winner

When The Voice of Holland launched in late 2010, it was the original version of what would become one of the most widely replicated formats in television history. Saunders entered that first season and won, coached by Roel van Velzen, a Dutch singer who served on the show’s inaugural panel. His victory single reached number one on the Dutch charts, and his win positioned him as one of the first artists anywhere to claim a Voice competition title.

The show went on to produce national editions in dozens of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Its first season in the Netherlands was the starting point for that entire lineage, and Saunders remained connected to its legacy as the franchise’s original champion.

His Brother’s Words

Dean Saunders, Ben’s brother, confirmed the news through social media on Monday as details emerged. “My dear little brother passed away today,” Dean wrote. He later added: “Ben had a beautiful family and relatives who love him dearly — and I always will, too.” A third message closed with: “Rest in peace my little brother. Ben Saunders will never be forgotten.”

The two brothers had maintained a close relationship in both their personal lives and their shared professional ventures in the years following Ben’s television debut.

Life After The Voice

After his early success in music, Saunders shifted careers and became a tattoo artist. He co-founded Tattoo Saunders, a business he ran alongside his brother Dean, and the two built it into a working enterprise. The transition moved him largely out of the music industry, though he remained connected to Dutch entertainment. In 2023, he appeared on the Dutch television program Avastars, marking a brief return to the public eye. Beyond those glimpses, he had kept a relatively low profile in recent years.

His personal life included a family of his own. Dean’s tribute referenced “a beautiful family,” though specific details about his survivors have not been publicly released by the family.

Other Recent Losses in Entertainment

The news of Saunders’s death comes during a period in which the entertainment world has absorbed several prominent losses. Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer best known for “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” died at 75. Lauren Bennett, known for her work on “Party Rock Anthem” and with pop group G.R.L., died at 37. Todd Snider, a singer-songwriter with a devoted following, died at 59 following a violent assault. Tim Curry, the veteran performer whose cause of death was shared publicly a week after he passed at 80, also drew widespread attention from fans worldwide.

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