Second fire at Berkel en Rodenrijs farm where dead body, drug lab were found 2 years ago

A farm shed on Noordeindseweg in Berkel en Rodenrijs completely burned out overnight from Wednesday into Thursday, releasing large amounts of smoke. The same property was also struck by a fire two years ago, after which a drug lab was found inside the shed. Then, inside the drug lab, a car with a dead body in it was discovered, Rijnmond reports.

As far as it is known, no one was injured during the fire from Wednesday into the Thursday night, but the shed itself could not be saved. Cars were also damaged by the heat.

In connection with the chain of events that started with a fire two years ago and later led to police discovering a dead body and a drug lab at the same location, two men were later arrested. They were sentenced to more than three years in prison.

“They were just in the process of rebuilding everything again. Now they can start over once more,” René van der Linden from Veiligheidsregio Rotterdam told Rijnmond about the farm's residents.

The fire brigade said it “searched very thoroughly” at the latest fire “so we wouldn’t be faced with any surprises," they said. Police are investigating.

In Zoetermeer, some reported a strong smell of something burning as the result of the smoke drifting northward. The firefighters advised residents to keep windows and doors closed and to switch off mechanical ventilation.