Willem van Eijk

The Beast of Harkstede, Gekke Willempje

  Active for 31 years
(1971-2001) in Netherlands

5

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

8

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 12 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 8 Books About Willem van Eijk
  14. 4 External References
  15. Internal References

Willem van Eijk a Dutch serial killer known as The Beast of Harkstede and Gekke Willempje (Crazy little William). Eijk was convicted of five murders, all female, mostly prostitutes. He was an outcast from early elementary school, being publicly bullied and showing several acts of animal cruelty. Van Eijk was sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment in 1974 for two murders, released in 1990. He started killing again in 2001 and was re-arrested on November 12th 2001. Eijk was convicted in 2002 of three additional murders. He appealed, and asked for clemency but all attempts were denied.

Willem van Eijk Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Willem van Eijk (aka) The Beast of Harkstede, Gekke Willempje, was active for 31 years between 1971-2001, known to have ( 5 confirmed / 8 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: Netherlands

Willem van Eijk was born on August 13th 1941 in Korteraar, Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands. He was raised by both parents. He had a head injury or brain defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems, including being teased or picked on.

Willem van Eijk a heterosexual male citizen of Kingdom of the Netherlands. He married his prison pen-pal Adri. He had no children mentioned.

Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He saw a psychologist and spent time in a Forensic Hospital.

In 1971 (Age 29/30) Willem van Eijk started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to strangle, rape, mutilate, and murder his victims. At the time of his crimes he was living with himself, alone later on a farm with his wife Adri and one of Adri's children, where he was known to work as a criminal, serial killer.

He was arrested on November 12th 2001 (Age 60), convicted on November 5th 2002 (Age 61), sentenced to life imprisonment at a prison in the Netherlands. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Profile Completeness: 76%
serial killers by profile completeness

Willem van Eijk has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Willem van Eijk a known:

Willem van Eijk
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-02-15 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: Willem van Eijk
Nickname: The Beast of Harkstede, Gekke Willempje
Victims: 5 - 8
Years Active: 1971 - 2001
Ages Active: 29/30 - 59/60
Active Countries: Netherlands
Convicted Of: murder
Life Span: 1941 -     
Characteristics
Gender: Male
Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Sexual Preference: heterosexual
Astrological Sign: Leo
Jul 23 - Aug 23
Birth Month: August
Marital Status: married his prison pen-pal Adri
Children: no children mentioned
Living With: himself, alone later on a farm with his wife Adri and one of Adri's children
Occupation: criminal, serial killer
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: Aug 13, 1941
Given Name: Willem
Birth Location: Korteraar, Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands
Birth Order: N/A
Siblings: N/A
Raised By: both parents
Birth Category: N/A
Mother: N/A
Father: N/A

Cognitive Ability
IQ: N/A
Highest School: N/A
Highest Degree:

Incarceration
Arrested: Nov 12, 2001 (Age 60)
Convicted: Nov 5, 2002 (Age 61)
Sentence: life imprisonment
Prison Location: a prison in the Netherlands
Executed: N/A
Previous Crimes: TRUE
Previous Jail: TRUE
Previous Prison: TRUE

Death Information
Death Date: N/A
Cause of Death: N/A
Death Location: N/A
Killed In Prison: N/A
Suicide: N/A
12 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Willem van Eijk

The 12 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Willem van Eijk. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
Aug 13 1941Willem van Eijk was born in Korteraar, Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands.  #19410813
Aug 13 1961
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
1971
(Age 29/30)
Willem van Eijk started his serial killing spree. #1971
Aug 13 1971
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
Aug 13 1981
(Age 40)
40th Birthday
Aug 13 1991
(Age 50)
50th Birthday
2001
(Age 59/60)
Willem van Eijk ended his serial killing spree. #2001
Aug 13 2001
(Age 60)
60th Birthday
Nov 12 2001
(Age 60)
Willem van Eijk arrested. #20011112
Nov 05 2002
(Age 61)
Willem van Eijk was convictedand sentenced to life imprisonment at a prison in the Netherlands.  #20021105
Aug 13 2011
(Age 70)
70th Birthday
Aug 13 2021
(Age 80)
80th Birthday
Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Willem van Eijk (1971-2001).

Serial Killers By Active Year


28 / 40
ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
living with children TRUE 268
problems in school TRUE 221
teased in school TRUE 218
head injury TRUE 299
psychologist TRUE 258
forensic hospital TRUE 257
previous crimes TRUE 367
previous jail TRUE 352
previous prision TRUE 336
previous killed TRUE 208
used weapon TRUE 453
rape TRUE 453
strangle TRUE 443
mutilated TRUE 447
physically defect FALSE 300
speach defect FALSE 300
used gun FALSE 451
torture FALSE 426
stalk FALSE 418
blindfold FALSE 363
bound FALSE 406
sex with body FALSE 430
ate part of body FALSE 451
drank blood FALSE 442
posed body FALSE 365
totem body part FALSE 365
totem personal item FALSE 354
robbed FALSE 418


Books that Mention Willem van Eijk

Book: Serial Killer Stranglers (mentions serial killer Willem van Eijk)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Book: Serial Killer Rapists (mentions serial killer Willem van Eijk)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Book: Lost Shepherd (mentions serial killer Willem van Eijk)
Philip F. Lawler
Lost Shepherd
Book: The Promise of Francis (mentions serial killer Willem van Eijk)
David Willey
The Promise of Francis
Book: Eleven Cardinals Speak on Marriage... (mentions serial killer Willem van Eijk)
Winfried Aymans
Eleven Cardinals Speak on Marriage and the Fa...
Book: Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics (mentions serial killer Willem van Eijk)
Willem Jacobus Eijk
Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics

8 Books that mention Serial Killer
Willem van Eijk

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630600 Serial Killer Stranglers 164
1733630619 Serial Killer Rapists 266
1621577538 Lost Shepherd 1
1476789053 The Promise of Francis 1
1681496771 Eleven Cardinals Speak on... 1
192513816x Manual of Catholic Medica... 1
1231669063 Seriemoordenaar 1
1232574473 Nederlands Crimineel 1

Willem van Eijk (born in Korteraar, 13 August 1941) is a convicted Dutch serial killer known as "Het Beest van Harkstede" (The Beast of Harkstede). He was convicted twice for a total of five murders.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Willem van Eijk on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Willem VAN EIJK on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018.
  3. Willem van Eijk on nl.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018.
  4. Q2532064 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018.
Internal References

Willem van Eijk is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #2 of 3[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in the Netherlands
  2. #11 of 651[ Page 1 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  3. #19 of 40[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in August
  4. #24 of 46[ Page 2 ] of Leo Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  5. #153 of 250[ Page 11 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  6. #154 of 651[ Page 11 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
  7. #189 of 307[ Page 13 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  8. #261 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  9. #373 of 651[ Page 25 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts Willem van Eijk is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Sexual Preference, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: