Ben Saunders, the inaugural winner of the global The Voice franchise, has died at the age of 43. Saunders gained international recognition in 2011 when he won the first season of The Voice of Holland, the Dutch singing competition that served as the blueprint for the widely popular series later adapted by NBC in the United States.
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 searching for a man matching his description—43 years old with tattoos and a beard—after he was reported missing that same morning. His body was eventually recovered by authorities at 1:20 p.m. local time.
While an official cause of death has not yet been determined, Dutch police indicated that there is no suspicion of foul play. The singer’s brother, Dean Saunders, confirmed the news through a poignant tribute on Instagram. Reflecting on the loss, Dean wrote that he had never experienced such profound pain, adding that his family is struggling to process the sudden tragedy. He also honored his brother via their joint business account, Tattoo Saunders, stating that Ben would never be forgotten.
Marco Borsato, who served as a coach during Saunders’ winning season, also shared an emotional message online. Expressing his grief, Borsato wrote that his heart was crying for the loss of a special man, while offering his condolences to Janita, Saunders’ fiancée. To pay tribute to the late artist, Borsato posted a video of Saunders performing his song, “Dochters.”
Born in London, Saunders moved to the Netherlands with his family during his youth. His breakout moment arrived in 2010 when he auditioned for the talent show with a cover of the Kings of Leon song “Use Somebody.” His victory in the finale the following year was cemented by his performance of the original track “Kill for a Broken Heart.”
The song achieved significant commercial success, peaking at No. 4 on the Dutch Top 40 chart. The track was also featured on his debut solo studio album, You Thought You Knew Me By Now, which reached the top of the Dutch charts following its release 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 we have to learn to live with this and I hope this will be handled respectfully…,” Dean Saunders wrote, translated from Dutch. The report also notes that ben had a beautiful beautiful family and a family that loves him very much and always will. The report also notes that i can’t find words for the emptiness you leave behind.
