Police are trying to trace the parents of a foetus whose remains were discovered in woodland near Zeist.

The baby had reached around 24 weeks gestation and appeared to have been taken to the woods to be buried. Utrecht police said they were not treating the matter as a crime.

Search dogs and a helicopter scanned the area immediately after the body was found in the Heidestein nature area at around 10.30am on Sunday, but the investigation has been stood down.

‘We hope that the parents or those involved come forward so that they can say their goodbyes properly,’ police said in statement.

Op de Hoog Kanje in #Zeist is rond 10.30 uur vanochtend een lichaam gevonden. De politie doet onderzoek. De @politiehelinl vliegt en er is een speurhond ingezet. Heeft u iets gezien of gehoord dat helpt bij het politieonderzoek? Bel dan 0900 8844. Alvast bedankt.

— Politie Utrecht (@PolitieUtrecht) March 7, 2021