Public prosecutor’s office again dismisses the case surrounding the infamous daycare center ‘t (B)engeltje

Child abuse

Daycare center ‘t (B)engeltje in Oudenaarde was accused of child abuse by several parents and former employees. Because there was insufficient evidence, the public prosecutor’s office decided to dismiss the case for a second time.

Following complaints about child abuse, the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office started an investigation into the daycare center ‘t (B)engeltje in Oudenaarde. The Growing Up Agency filed civil proceedings. However, the case was dismissed in January 2022 because there was insufficient evidence. After the daycare center was closed by the Growing Up agency, the business was reopened. However, insufficient new evidence was provided and the case was again dismissed. The parents involved were informed of this decision on Monday evening, in the presence of the victim reception service.

In theory, the suspects and their family can start a daycare center again, says Niels Heselmans, spokesperson for the Opgroeien agency. Growing up cannot impose a professional ban itself, this can only be done by the court. Employers can decide for themselves whether those involved can return to work in a daycare center. But when applying for new daycare centers, the applicant’s history is thoroughly examined. According to Heselmans, this analysis carries weight when granting a permit.

Heselmans points out that the Flemish government recently approved a proposal to amend the childcare decree. This would make it possible to impose a ban on organizers after infringements from applying for a new permit, or from starting to work again as a responsible person in a childcare facility. This still requires approval by the Flemish Parliament.

Locked up for minutes

The investigation was started following a complaint against the childcare manager by four former employees and two parents in September 2021. According to them, the children were beaten, locked in a storage room for minutes and forcibly given food and drinks.

‘t (B)engeltje was an independent daycare center that opened its doors in 2009. The operator worked there together with her two (half) sisters, her mother and a number of quickly changing childcare workers. The Healthcare Inspectorate visited a number of times in the years before the last complaints, but found no shortages. Yet the first complaints date back to 2011.

The complainants heard the person responsible and her family say things like “that wasn’t great pedagogically, but it works” and “you have to break children with such heads”. The criminal file also revealed an incident in which hot soup was spilled on a child. The child was not taken care of, resulting in a second-degree burn, which required plastic surgery.

The Growing Up agency closed the ‘t (B)engeltje in November 2022. That decision was made independently of the criminal investigation. It was based on discussions with the operator, reports from the Care Inspectorate and the report from the Flemish Child Abuse Expertise Center. The property was offered for sale at the beginning of 2023. In the meantime, other operators have started the new crèche ‘Les Petits Filous’ there.