October 19, 2026 — Amsterdam authorities have launched a full-scale homicide investigation following the grim discovery of a young woman’s body inside a suitcase recovered from the Amstel river. Police have formally identified the victim as Hajar, a woman who had been reported missing two weeks earlier after she was last seen departing on a bicycle alongside an unidentified man near the capital’s prominent RAI convention centre.
The investigation took a devastating turn last Friday when investigators recovered human remains from the waters of the Amstel. Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed the identity of the deceased, prompting an urgent appeal from law enforcement as they race to piece together the final movements of the victim and track down the mysterious individual she was last seen with.
According to the timeline established by the police, Hajar was last seen alive on the afternoon of October 4. Witnesses observed her leaving the area surrounding the RAI conference complex, heading in the direction of the Buitenveldert district in the southern part of Amsterdam. At the time of her disappearance, she was riding a black ladies’ bicycle and was in the company of a man whose identity remains unknown to investigators.
Police are treating the case with the utmost urgency, prioritizing efforts to retrace this bicycle journey and identify the man accompanying her. Investigators have not yet established the exact nature of the relationship between Hajar and the cyclist, nor have they publicly detailed how long the two may have been together prior to her disappearance.
Local media reports, specifically from Amsterdam broadcaster AT5, have surfaced detailing further elements of the discovery. According to these local reports, a passer-by first stumbled upon the suspicious suitcase containing the body on Saturday morning along the waterway. Furthermore, reports indicate that residents in local neighborhood WhatsApp groups received alerts later that same day, with inquiries asking whether anyone had observed individuals acting suspiciously or handling a heavy suitcase in the vicinity around that time.
While police officials have acknowledged the gravity of the ongoing probe, they have formally declined to confirm or deny these specific local media accounts regarding the initial discovery by the passer-by or the neighborhood app inquiries, maintaining that certain investigative details must remain confidential while active leads are being pursued.
As part of their public outreach efforts to generate new leads, police have released detailed physical descriptions of Hajar in hopes that someone in the community might remember seeing her during the fortnight she was missing. She is described as standing between 1.65 meters and 1.70 meters tall, featuring distinctive dark curly hair and dark eyes. In addition to these physical characteristics, investigators have highlighted what she was wearing the day before she vanished. On that day, she was seen wearing a striking tiger print dress paired with white New Balance sneakers—details that investigators hope might jog the memory of anyone who crossed paths with her in the days leading up to October 4.
The disappearance and subsequent tragic death of Hajar have sent shockwaves through the local community, drawing intense public interest and concern across Amsterdam. The Amstel river, a major waterway flowing directly through the heart and southern stretches of the city, is frequently busy with commuters, recreational cyclists, and pedestrians, making it a critical focus area for investigators trying to determine when and how the suitcase was placed in the water.
Law enforcement agencies are urging anyone who may have witnessed anything unusual, or who caught a glimpse of Hajar between October 4 and October 17, to come forward immediately. Police are particularly interested in speaking with motorists, cyclists, or residents who were in the vicinity of the RAI conference centre, the route toward Buitenveldert, or the banks of the Amstel river and who might have noticed suspicious behavior, abandoned luggage, or a black ladies’ bicycle matching the description.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the Dutch police directly at 0900 8844, or to submit tips online through the official police portal at www.politie.nl. For individuals who prefer to share information confidentially, anonymous reporting is available through Meld Misdaad Anoniem by calling 0800 7000 or by visiting www.meldmisdaadanoniem.nl/anoniem-melden.
