Sophia turns 31 today
December 7, 2024
Today, December 7th, Sophia turned 31 years old. Born at home, at 1.43pm, a beautiful baby with wide open eyes.
Nine years without Sophia, in Ugandan media
October 28, 2024
Oktober 28th, again. In 2015 it was a Wednesday. I remember that phone call so very well: ‘Sophia has been
Sophia turns 30 today
December 7, 2023
Today Sophia turns 30 years old. It is the ninth birthday without gifts, without music, without a party, without happiness.
Eight years without Sophia, in Ugandan press
October 29, 2023
October 28th, the day Sophia disappeared, now eight years ago. A period of time that is hard to comprehend. It
Sophia in Libelle magazine, the impact of a missing child
October 1, 2023
This week the Dutch weekly ‘Libelle’ published an interview with me, Sophia’s mother, about Sophia’s mysterious disappearance and the impact
Sophia in The Daily Beast
September 24, 2023
This weekend a long article about Sophia’s mysterious disappearance in Uganda appeared in the American online magazine The Daily Beast.
Sophia’s TV portrait broadcast on Ugandan TV
December 20, 2022
On Sunday December 11th Sophia’s TV portrait, as made by Dutch public television, was broadcast in Uganda at 10pm by
Sophia is 29 today
December 7, 2022
Today, December 7th of 2022, it is 29 years ago that Sophia was born, at home in Amsterdam. A lovely
Seven years without Sophia
October 30, 2022
The 28th day of October lies behind us again. It is the day that confronts us in full force with
Sophia’s TV-portrait with English subtitles
October 14, 2022
A version with English subtitles of Sophia’s portrait in the Dutch TV programme ‘Break Free’ can now be watched here:
Portrait of Sophia on Dutch Public Television
September 29, 2022
‘Break Free’ is a popular programme on Dutch Public Television about young adventurous Dutch people who travel to faraway countries
Sophia is 28 today
December 7, 2021
Today, December 7, 2021, it is 28 years ago that Sophia was born, at home in Amsterdam. The pain of
“Dutch mother won’t give up search for missing daughter”
December 3, 2021
Amsterdam, December 3, 2021 A few days ago I returned from my 18th trip to Uganda. During my stay there
Six years without Sophia
October 31, 2021
October 28, 2015, the day our lives fell apart and the worst and most unimaginable nightmare started. The phone call
Missing in Uganda: Sophia Koetsier
September 8, 2021
August 30 was the International Day of the Disappeared. On this day there is worldwide attention for people who have
Sophia turns 27 today
December 7, 2020
Today, December 7th, Sophia turns 27 years old. A girl goes missing. A piano stays silent. Lives in pieces. The
Five years without Sophia in various media
October 29, 2020
Amsterdam, 29 October, 2020 How we wished yesterday would have been a perfectly ordinary day. A normal day, with Sophia
The fight continues
May 7, 2020
With the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, and Deputy Ambassador of The Netherlands, Joris van Bommel On April 28 it
Sophia is 26 today
December 7, 2019
Today it is 26 years ago that Sophia was born. A beautiful child that came into this world with
Four years without Sophia
November 19, 2019
October 28, 2019, marks four years without Sophia. Our lovely, smart, strong-willed, lively, cheerful, ambitious and beautiful daughter and sister.
Sophia’s disappearance on TV in Uganda
July 29, 2019
On July 5 I returned home from my tenth journey to Uganda. As with each of my journeys, new contacts
Sophia’s disappearance in Ugandan papers
May 1, 2019
Early April an American tourist and her driver were abducted in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. This park is
Sophia is 25 today
December 7, 2018
Today is Sophia’s 25th birthday, her fourth birthday in incomprehensible absence. She was born at home, on an early Tuesday
Three years without Sophia
October 28, 2018
Three years ago Sophia disappeared and the ongoing nightmare started. Three years of devastating insecurity, a daily confrontation with a
Sophia’s 24th birthday
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017 Sophia turns 24 today. Her third birthday in incomprehensible absence. Lights are always lit for her, in
The journey starts
September 11, 2017
It is August 30th, 2015 and Sophia is checking in for her journey to Uganda, a journey she has still
Over a year ago
November 16, 2016
Amsterdam, November 16, 2016 On Friday October 28th, around eight o’clock in the evening Dutch time, it was a year
Back to Uganda
August 14, 2016
Dear All, It has been silent for a while. Despair sometimes wins the battle with hope but we keep trying
Update search
May 20, 2016
Dear all, The search team, lead by Frank van de Goot, has returned from Uganda. They have not found Sophia.
Investigation into the case of Sophia Koetsier, missing in Uganda, possibly on hold due to insurance company’s refusal to guarantee costs of search
April 27, 2016
Amsterdam – April 27 2016 – After months of discussion, it has become clear Sophia Koetsier’s travel insurance company interpret their obligations under policy differently than expected. Sophia has a contract with a travel insurance company in which a search operation in case she goes missing, is explicitly covered. This is based on the condition the search occurs in cooperation with the authorities. This base has been covered, as both the Dutch and the Ugandan authorities are cooperating with the team. In spite of these facts, the insurance company is refusing to guarantee costs of the joined investigation.
Update preparations search Uganda
April 11, 2016
Many of you will wonder what exactly that money is needed for. This is a justified question, five months after her disappearance. When asked ‘why are we still searching?’ Sophia’s parents, Gerard and Marije’s answer is simple: ‘Because Sophia has still not been found and we have no idea what happened to her!’
Find Sophia Foundation established
February 29, 2016
At the request of the Koetsier family the Foundation Find Sophia –IBAN NL34 RABO 0169 9179 32- has been established to collect funds in order to finance a search operation to find their missing daughter Sophia Koetsier. Sophia went missing on October 28th 2015 at Murchison Falls, Uganda.
Sophia turns 31 today
December 7, 2024
Today, December 7th, Sophia turned 31 years old. Born at home, at 1.43pm, a beautiful baby with wide open eyes.
Nine years without Sophia, in Ugandan media
October 28, 2024
Oktober 28th, again. In 2015 it was a Wednesday. I remember that phone call so very well: ‘Sophia has been
Sophia turns 30 today
December 7, 2023
Today Sophia turns 30 years old. It is the ninth birthday without gifts, without music, without a party, without happiness.
Eight years without Sophia, in Ugandan press
October 29, 2023
October 28th, the day Sophia disappeared, now eight years ago. A period of time that is hard to comprehend. It
Sophia in Libelle magazine, the impact of a missing child
October 1, 2023
This week the Dutch weekly ‘Libelle’ published an interview with me, Sophia’s mother, about Sophia’s mysterious disappearance and the impact
Sophia in The Daily Beast
September 24, 2023
This weekend a long article about Sophia’s mysterious disappearance in Uganda appeared in the American online magazine The Daily Beast.
Sophia’s TV portrait broadcast on Ugandan TV
December 20, 2022
On Sunday December 11th Sophia’s TV portrait, as made by Dutch public television, was broadcast in Uganda at 10pm by
Sophia is 29 today
December 7, 2022
Today, December 7th of 2022, it is 29 years ago that Sophia was born, at home in Amsterdam. A lovely
Seven years without Sophia
October 30, 2022
The 28th day of October lies behind us again. It is the day that confronts us in full force with
Sophia’s TV-portrait with English subtitles
October 14, 2022
A version with English subtitles of Sophia’s portrait in the Dutch TV programme ‘Break Free’ can now be watched here:
Portrait of Sophia on Dutch Public Television
September 29, 2022
‘Break Free’ is a popular programme on Dutch Public Television about young adventurous Dutch people who travel to faraway countries
Sophia is 28 today
December 7, 2021
Today, December 7, 2021, it is 28 years ago that Sophia was born, at home in Amsterdam. The pain of
“Dutch mother won’t give up search for missing daughter”
December 3, 2021
Amsterdam, December 3, 2021 A few days ago I returned from my 18th trip to Uganda. During my stay there
Six years without Sophia
October 31, 2021
October 28, 2015, the day our lives fell apart and the worst and most unimaginable nightmare started. The phone call
Missing in Uganda: Sophia Koetsier
September 8, 2021
August 30 was the International Day of the Disappeared. On this day there is worldwide attention for people who have
Sophia turns 27 today
December 7, 2020
Today, December 7th, Sophia turns 27 years old. A girl goes missing. A piano stays silent. Lives in pieces. The
Five years without Sophia in various media
October 29, 2020
Amsterdam, 29 October, 2020 How we wished yesterday would have been a perfectly ordinary day. A normal day, with Sophia
The fight continues
May 7, 2020
With the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, and Deputy Ambassador of The Netherlands, Joris van Bommel On April 28 it
Sophia is 26 today
December 7, 2019
Today it is 26 years ago that Sophia was born. A beautiful child that came into this world with
Four years without Sophia
November 19, 2019
October 28, 2019, marks four years without Sophia. Our lovely, smart, strong-willed, lively, cheerful, ambitious and beautiful daughter and sister.
Sophia’s disappearance on TV in Uganda
July 29, 2019
On July 5 I returned home from my tenth journey to Uganda. As with each of my journeys, new contacts
Sophia’s disappearance in Ugandan papers
May 1, 2019
Early April an American tourist and her driver were abducted in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. This park is
Sophia is 25 today
December 7, 2018
Today is Sophia’s 25th birthday, her fourth birthday in incomprehensible absence. She was born at home, on an early Tuesday
Three years without Sophia
October 28, 2018
Three years ago Sophia disappeared and the ongoing nightmare started. Three years of devastating insecurity, a daily confrontation with a
Sophia’s 24th birthday
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017 Sophia turns 24 today. Her third birthday in incomprehensible absence. Lights are always lit for her, in
The journey starts
September 11, 2017
It is August 30th, 2015 and Sophia is checking in for her journey to Uganda, a journey she has still
Over a year ago
November 16, 2016
Amsterdam, November 16, 2016 On Friday October 28th, around eight o’clock in the evening Dutch time, it was a year
Back to Uganda
August 14, 2016
Dear All, It has been silent for a while. Despair sometimes wins the battle with hope but we keep trying
Update search
May 20, 2016
Dear all, The search team, lead by Frank van de Goot, has returned from Uganda. They have not found Sophia.
Investigation into the case of Sophia Koetsier, missing in Uganda, possibly on hold due to insurance company’s refusal to guarantee costs of search
April 27, 2016
Amsterdam – April 27 2016 – After months of discussion, it has become clear Sophia Koetsier’s travel insurance company interpret their obligations under policy differently than expected. Sophia has a contract with a travel insurance company in which a search operation in case she goes missing, is explicitly covered. This is based on the condition the search occurs in cooperation with the authorities. This base has been covered, as both the Dutch and the Ugandan authorities are cooperating with the team. In spite of these facts, the insurance company is refusing to guarantee costs of the joined investigation.
Update preparations search Uganda
April 11, 2016
Many of you will wonder what exactly that money is needed for. This is a justified question, five months after her disappearance. When asked ‘why are we still searching?’ Sophia’s parents, Gerard and Marije’s answer is simple: ‘Because Sophia has still not been found and we have no idea what happened to her!’
Find Sophia Foundation established
February 29, 2016
At the request of the Koetsier family the Foundation Find Sophia –IBAN NL34 RABO 0169 9179 32- has been established to collect funds in order to finance a search operation to find their missing daughter Sophia Koetsier. Sophia went missing on October 28th 2015 at Murchison Falls, Uganda.