Family of Lisa, 17, Mourns After Murder Near Amsterdam

Around 3:30 a.m., she left her friends and pedalled away on her electric bike. Her decision between leaving the bike and riding home was thus "la lado" (on the flying side). She was then attacked shortly afterwards near the Spinoza20First secondary school in Amsterdam-Oost, not far from where she recently graduated.

Police tracked her phone and found her dead body in a ditch along Holterbergweg in Duivendrecht at 4.15 a.m. A man on a bicycle is thought to have been involved, and police are calling for witnesses, in particular a scooter rider and the occupants of a microcar and van sighted in the vicinity.

Family Requests Privacy Amid Grief
"Our hearts are shattered," said Lisa's family in a statement, requesting privacy as they grieve their daughter. They thanked the many friends, relatives and neighbours in the village of Abcoude, population 8,300, for their huge outpouring of support. Her funeral is to be private, though the family noted the public's intense interest in the case.

The victims' services organization Namens de Familie said the loss of Lisa has led to "indescribable grief." They have also asked the media not to publish her surname or photos to respect the family's wishes.

Community and Advocates React
Lisa was continuing her education at the pre-university program of Spinoza20First. The school's new principal, Kimberley Kaizer, said they are "in the process of developing a way, in commemoration of Sincere, to have students and staff have space to process this tragedy," by working with her family on a memorial.

Mayor Maarten Divendal of De Ronde municipality expressed his condolences to her family: "The whole community feels the family's great grief."

Dutch actress and activist Nienke Gravemade condemned the murder and lashed out against the victim-blaming of Takiyettin. She emphasised that young women should feel safe at all hours, saying, "I demand that 17-year-old girls make it home."

The case has prompted renewed demands for safe public spaces and freedom of movement, day or night, from women's rights advocates.