The body of a 52-year-old man has been found in a house in Groningen, some three years after he is thought to have died.

The man is thought to have died of natural causes. The approximate date of his death has been determined by doctors and police, on the basis of post found in the property.

‘It is very sad that someone has not been missed,’ police spokesman Wouter de Vries told news agency ANP.

The man’s body was found on November 25 after neighbours contacted the police saying he had not been seen for some time. There were also reports of a strange smell round the building, ANP said.

A year ago, the body of a 74-year-old woman was found in a home in Rotterdam. She had been dead for 10 years.