A single-vehicle crash in Heibloem claimed four lives and left two others in critical condition on Sunday afternoon.
The car struck a tree on a rural road, prompting widespread mourning in the community.
The driver, 38-year-old poultry farmer John Nouwen, was among the deceased. Nouwen was a former participant in the television program "Boer zoekt Vrouw."
The other victims, all from Heythuysen, were aged 27, 32, and 50.
The vehicle carried six occupants: Nouwen, three acquaintances, and two Ukrainian employees from his poultry farm.
The crash occurred just past a gentle curve on a narrow road with a 60 km/h speed limit, where no speed bumps are installed.
Nouwen's father visited the crash site, expressing bewilderment. "How can this be?
He was not a speeder at all," he said.
Four of the victims were members of the Zwarte Cross team Leudal, a 15-member group that builds specialized vehicles for the annual Zwarte Cross event in Gelderland.
The team released an emotional statement on Monday.
"Words fail us," the team said. They described the anxiety as notifications about a serious accident began circulating.
"The messages about a heavy accident came in. Gut feeling took over until we received that one phone call.
Four team members are involved. Two are still critically injured in the hospital, two we carry in our thoughts."
The organization expressed deep sorrow over losing long-standing members. "Stunned, we have learned of John and Erik.
Two highly valued members who were always there are no longer with us. The loss is already great, and our thoughts go out to their families."
The group also focused on the recovery of the survivors.
"Our thoughts also go to those still in the hospital, and we light candles for a positive recovery."
Thijs Rompelberg, chairman of the Limburgse Land- en Tuinbouwbond (LLTB), expressed deep sorrow, noting Nouwen's active role in the agricultural union.
"This terrible news deeply affects us," Rompelberg said. "John was a very involved member and a familiar face in the agricultural community.
Our thoughts go out to the relatives of all victims, their families, friends, and everyone affected by this loss.
I wish them much strength in this difficult time."
Leudal Mayor Désirée Schmalschläger, who personally knew two of the victims, cleared her schedule to support grieving families and ordered municipal flags to fly at half-staff.
"They had a large network, so it hits our community even harder. It is incomprehensible," she said.
The local government plans to consult directly with families to coordinate assistance in the coming days.
