A man and six young adults have been discovered after apparently living for nine years in a cellar on a remote Dutch farm, waiting “for the end of time”, according to Dutch media.

Police spokeswoman Nathalie Schubart confirmed to RTV Drenthe that a 58-year-old man had been arrested, and that six young adults were discovered in a “shut-off space” on the farm in Ruinerwold, Drenthe.

She would not confirm the relation between the people or describe the conditions they were found in or their state of health for privacy reasons, apart from to say that they had been brought to a safe location.

The alarm was sounded at the weekend by the barman at a local bar, when an unkempt 25 year-old came to his bar “confused” on Sunday. Café owner Chris Westerbeek told RTV Drenthe.

“The first time I saw him I sent him away but a few days later he came back. Last week he came in and ordered a few beers but we were going to shut. Last Sunday he ordered five beers and drank them. Then I talked to him. He said that he had run away and needed help. Then we called in the police.”