In May and June, Stichting Coldcasezaken will publish a series of new, modernized facial reconstructions of unidentified deceased persons from the Netherlands, Belgium, and other countries. The foundation hopes this will significantly increase the chances of recognition. Many of the original reconstructions date from ten to as much as twenty-five years ago and have since become visually outdated or too confronting for publication.

Thanks to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and precise image editing, the new versions appear more human, realistic, and suitable for a broad audience. Disturbing elements such as open mouths, bloodstains, and distortions have been subtly adjusted, while the recognizable facial features have been preserved.

Additionally, in several cases, simple sketch-like drawings have been transformed into hyperrealistic reconstructions. These faces, which previously only provided a rough impression of the deceased, have now been turned into photographs that appear almost lifelike. This gives some cases, for the first time, a human appearance that can truly resonate.

“We have not only improved existing reconstructions,” says founder Sander Meyer of Stichting Coldcasezaken, “but also edited photos where the deceased’s face was shockingly visible. We converted these into more neutral images that people are more willing to look at—and thereby possibly recognize.”

Experience shows that photos of deceased persons often cause people to look away quickly. According to Meyer, this is a missed opportunity. That is precisely why the foundation has chosen a different approach, focusing more on realism, dignity, and accessibility.

“If an image strongly resembles your own father or mother, you will still recognize that person—even if not every detail is exact,” says Meyer. “Each reconstruction has been made as accurate as possible, with attention to shape, proportions, and style. We worked hard on this and are proud of the result.”

With this series of new reconstructions, the foundation aims not only to update existing cases but also to add unknown deceased persons who have not previously appeared on the website. Stichting Coldcasezaken hopes for cooperation from the media in this effort.

“We call on editorial teams and journalists to bring attention to these—previously unpublishable—victims. Every publication could be a breakthrough for families who have lived for years with uncertainty about a missing son, daughter, partner, or parent.”

The complete folder with no less than 80 photos is available via the download link below. Everyone is free to download the images as long as they are used solely for identification purposes.

Download the photo folder here (available until June 13)

For additional information or interview requests:
📧 info@coldcasezaken.nl or 📞 +31 6 45883058

All photos may be freely used by third parties, now and in the future, without permission, exclusively for identification purposes.