The body of a young Dutchman, reported missing in southern Turkey in early July, has been found in a dried-up river bed, Turkish police said on Monday.

It is not clear how Joey Hoffmann died, but some sources told the Telegraaf that he does not have any signs of being stabbed or shot. Police hope a post-mortem will determine what happened to the 21-year-old.

Hoffmann had travelled to Turkey with his friends Björn and Derya Breuker to help them build a house on land they had bought near Silifke, a small town in the south of the country.

His disappearance and the role of his friends have since been mired in mystery. All three came from the Overijssel town of Haaksbergen.

The couple plus Hoffman are said to have arrived in the region on July 5 and stayed overnight in the area where the house was to be built. However, the couple say Hoffman became homesick and took a taxi to another town to start his journey home on July 8. Nothing was heard from him since then.

Bjorn Breukers was found several days later by soldiers close to their campsite with serious injuries. He claimed to have fallen from a rock. He was hospitalised and the couple then disappeared from the radar. Hoffman was reported missing by his family on July 17.

Björn and Derya were picked up by police on August 2 and questioned for two days before being released and ordered to stay in Turkey. Police have said they are not considered suspects, broadcaster NOS said on Monday.