A Dutch pensioner ended his life via euthanasia after he could not cope with the trauma he sustained in a brutal home robbery late last year, it has been revealed.

Jan Beulenkamp, 77, suffered brain damage and a slew of other horrific injuries when he was violently attacked as he lay in bed at home in Liendenhof, Amsterdam-Zuidoost, in November.

Shocking images from the aftermath of the assault showed the elderly Dutchman sporting horrendous bruises and lacerations across his face, neck and chest as he lay in a hospital bed.

The doting grandfather, supported by his wife, children and a host of doctors and therapists attempted to rehabilitate but his quality of life plummeted as he battled with impaired speech, partial paralysis and mental trauma. 

Three months after the deplorable attack, Mr Beulenkamp opted to die via euthanasia, having been granted permission to end his life by Dutch authorities. 

His attacker meanwhile remains at large, prompting the Public Prosecution Service to offer a reward of €10,000 euros for any information leading to their arrest.

The intruder, a Dutch-speaking man between 20 and 30 years old with dark skin according to a description given by the victims, rang the doorbell of the Beulenkamp household around 8:30am on November 26.

Mrs. Beulenkamp answered the door, expecting to meet a neighbour - but was confronted by the robber who immediately threatened her with a firearm and demanded money. 

When she did not comply, he forced his way into the house and ransacked each room before rushing upstairs to find Mr. Beulenkamp still asleep in bed.

The attacker repeatedly struck the pensioner with the butt of his pistol, inflicting severe injuries, before assaulting Mrs. Beulenkamp and fleeing the scene with stolen jewellery. 

Mr. Beulenkamp was treated in the hospital for serious wounds to his legs, head, and face following the attack.

He initially showed positive signs of recovery, surprising hospital staff with his ability to communicate and walk just days after the heinous assault.

But his condition quickly deteriorated, and the weeks that followed saw the pensioner suffer from impaired speech, coordination issues, and partial paralysis.

His son and daughter shared their heartbreak over their father's rapid decline on the Dutch television programme Opsporing Verzocht - in English 'Investigation Requested' - which sheds light on crimes across the Netherlands. 

'He did deteriorate and then he realised that it might not be right yet,' his son recounted. 'His speech and coordination were affected, but he was also paralysed on one side.' 

His daughter added: 'It was heartbreaking to see that he could no longer express himself and make things clear. Our joy of life has been destroyed.'

In January 2024, Mr. Beulenkamp chose to undergo euthanasia, a decision supported by his family. 

People who die by euthanasia are typically given a barbiturate solution administered by doctors which stops their heart, although the method of Mr Beulenkamp's death has not been shared.

The Netherlands has one of the most progressive euthanasia laws in the world, and has seen two high-profile cases in just the past two months.  

Under Dutch law, euthanasia is legal if performed by a physician under strict conditions, and if the patient's suffering is deemed unbearable with no prospect of improvement.

In early June, a devoted couple who spent their lives together after meeting as small children chose to die via euthanasia side by side.

Jan Faber and Els van Leeningen, aged 70 and 71, were married for almost five decades before they ended their lives by lethal injection at the same time.

Jan, who worked as a cargo boat operator, had been suffering from severe back pain for over 20 years, while his wife was diagnosed with dementia in 2022 which became so debilitating that she struggled to form sentences. 

In the moments before their deaths, the pair were surrounded by friends and family, including their son, who had found his parents' decision to end their lives hard to take.

'You don't want to let your parents die, so there have been tears,' Jan said of his son's reaction.

'Our son said, "better times will come, better weather" - but not for me.' Els said before her planned death: 

'There is no other solution.'

In May, a physically healthy Dutch woman died by euthanasia shortly after turning 29 because she didn't want to live with depression and anxiety.

Zoraya ter Beek, who also suffered from traumaand borderline personality disorder, decided that she wanted to die after struggling with mental health issues for over a decade, while claiming that no treatment had helped her. 

She died 'a dignified death, which she longed for for years due to unbearable psychological suffering,' according to an obituary published by Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

Beek's case received global attention and ignited debate about assisted dying. 

Many who support euthanasia say it should only be available to terminally ill people facing an imminent, painful and undignified death. 

Others - like Beek - insist a comfortable, peaceful suicide should be an available option to people suffering from insurmountable mental anguish. 

In light of Mr Beulenkamp's death in January, police have intensified their efforts to solve this case. 

A reward of €10,000 euros has been offered for any information leading to the capture of the perpetrator. 

'We do not rule out that the perpetrator came from the neighbourhood or knows the neighbourhood well. This is because there is no escape route for a car and the street is a dead end,' a police spokesperson stated.

A text message has been sent to potential witnesses who were in the vicinity at the time of the robbery in an attempt to generate new leads.