Dutch detectives are using a life-sized hologram of Bernadett “Betty” Szabó, a young sex worker murdered in Amsterdam’s Red Light District 15 years ago, in a bold attempt to solve her case. Betty, who was brutally murdered at just 19 years old, has remained on the minds of detectives, her family, and the public for over a decade. This innovative approach is the first of its kind in the Netherlands and aims to jog memories, elicit new leads, and ultimately bring her killer or killers to justice.
Born in Hungary, Betty Szabó came to Amsterdam at 18 years old with hopes of building a new life. Despite her young age, Betty chose to work as a sex worker in Amsterdam’s famed Red Light District, where she quickly became part of the vibrant and diverse community of Oudezijds Achterburgwal, a canal-side street filled with window brothels and bustling nightlife. Known for her striking dragon tattoo, which adorned her torso, Betty was a familiar face among her colleagues and regular clients. Even after becoming pregnant, she continued working, giving birth to a son who was later placed with a foster family.
Betty’s last night was February 19, 2009. Two colleagues, who had noticed the absence of her usual music, checked on her around 1 a.m. They found her dead in her room, the victim of a violent attack in which she had been stabbed multiple times. For 15 years, her death has haunted both detectives and her community. Despite extensive investigations, the case went cold, leaving many unanswered questions about Betty’s final hours and the identity of her murderer.
In a groundbreaking move, detectives launched a new initiative involving a life-sized hologram of Betty displayed in a window at a corner house in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The hologram, created with 3D visualization technology, presents Betty as she once was—young, hopeful, and familiar, with her iconic dragon tattoo clearly visible. The intent is to reach potential witnesses or anyone who may have insights related to her murder. The image sits on a stool in the window, appearing as if Betty herself is attempting to make eye contact with passersby, silently imploring their help to solve her case.
“This is the first time we’ve done something like this, and to be honest, we’re a bit nervous,” explained Benjamin van Gogh, coordinator of Amsterdam’s wanted and missing persons team. “We want to do justice to Betty, her family, and the community that cared about her. After thorough consultation, we decided the hologram might offer a unique way to keep her memory alive and visible, inviting people to come forward with any information, no matter how small.”
Van Gogh noted that the decision to use such unconventional means was not made lightly. Police consulted extensively with Betty’s family, who supported the idea in hopes that new clues might finally bring the case to a close.
In addition to the hologram, the corner house where it’s displayed has been transformed into a memorial and investigative center dedicated to Betty’s life and her unsolved murder. The windows are covered in posters, with TV screens looping documentary footage, and still images of Betty from her final days. Passersby are invited to watch, remember, and, perhaps, reflect on whether they might have any information to share.
Van Gogh emphasized the humanizing aspect of the project, saying, “We try to always put a face on a victim in our public appeals. The hologram adds a new dimension to that approach—it’s as if she’s reaching out herself, asking for people to remember her and to help bring justice to her family.”
The cold case team working on Betty’s case has left no stone unturned in their efforts to find new leads, despite the considerable time that has passed. Anne Dreijer-Heemskerk, a veteran of the cold case team, believes that the highly populated area where Betty was murdered holds untapped witness accounts.
“Betty was murdered in one of the busiest areas in Amsterdam, perhaps even the entire Netherlands,” Dreijer-Heemskerk stated. “It’s hard to believe that no one saw or heard something unusual that night. Over the years, people may have moved, circumstances may have changed, but memories stay, and we’re hoping the hologram will trigger something in someone’s mind.” She added that visitors to the Red Light District come from all over the world, increasing the chances that an international traveler might remember some crucial detail from that night.
The team has also increased the reward to €30,000 for information leading to the identification and conviction of Betty’s killer. They hope this incentive will encourage new witnesses to come forward, particularly those who may have feared retribution or had other reasons to remain silent in the past.
Creating a hologram of a murder victim raises complex ethical and technical considerations. In Betty’s case, the decision was not made without intensive debate and counsel. The Amsterdam police worked closely with visualization experts, psychologists, and advocacy groups to ensure that the hologram’s presentation respected Betty’s memory and the emotional weight of her story. “We didn’t want this to be a spectacle,” Van Gogh clarified. “It was designed to be a respectful, yet impactful way to represent Betty and highlight the need for closure.”
The technical execution involved scanning available photos and videos of Betty to generate a realistic, three-dimensional image. Specialists worked to recreate her likeness down to details such as her facial expressions, posture, and, of course, her tattoo, which had become emblematic of her presence in the district. This extensive attention to detail aimed to make the hologram recognizable to those who may have encountered her.
For those living and working in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, the presence of Betty’s hologram serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers many sex workers face and the vulnerability of the community. The murder and the continued efforts to solve it have sparked discussions about the safety of sex workers, an often-marginalized group that still faces significant risks despite protections.
Some sex worker advocacy groups have praised the initiative, hoping it brings attention to their safety concerns. A spokesperson for one of Amsterdam’s support organizations remarked, “This case shows that sex workers, like anyone else, deserve justice, dignity, and to feel safe in their workplace.”
However, reactions have been mixed, with some passersby finding the hologram haunting or uncomfortable. To them, the initiative feels like a ghostly presence, a stark reminder of unresolved violence. But to Dreijer-Heemskerk and her colleagues, that discomfort is part of the message. “The hologram’s purpose is to challenge the public, to force them to remember and to look for answers. If it’s unsettling, it should be—that’s the point.”
Cold cases are notoriously difficult to solve, with witness memories fading, physical evidence degrading, and leads often going nowhere. But there are reasons for optimism in Betty’s case. Advances in forensic science, such as DNA analysis, have led to breakthroughs in other cases years after the fact, and the Netherlands’ cold case teams have seen a steady stream of solved cases in recent years.
“Time can work in our favor,” Van Gogh commented. “There might be individuals who, due to personal or legal reasons, weren’t able to come forward back then. People change, circumstances change, and we’re hopeful that this renewed visibility will give someone the courage to speak up.”
The Dutch police have launched campaigns using social media, podcasts, and television programs to bring attention to unresolved cases. The hologram of Betty represents a bold, new approach in this ongoing strategy. It’s a testament to how technology can offer novel solutions to age-old challenges, particularly in cases where conventional methods have failed to yield results.
