Dutroux: The trauma of a country (2026)

In the sweltering summer of 1996, a single missing-person report unraveled into Belgium’s most harrowing nightmare. When authorities finally seized Marc Dutroux on August 13, they unearthed a sinister web of horror that would echo across the nation. What unfolded wasn’t just a crime spree—it was a profound betrayal of trust that shattered the public’s belief in justice, toppled institutions, and left an indelible scar on the country’s soul, redefining an entire era.