In the small village of just 4,000, the bearded man immediately stood and “looked confused,” Mr. Westerbeek said.

“He said he’d never been to school and hadn’t been to the barber for nine years,” he added.

The farm where the bearded man lived had a small vegetable garden and some livestock and was set back from the nearest road, shrouded from view by a line of trees.

The police confirmed that six adult siblings, between the ages of 18 and 25, who had been living on the farm were now receiving care. Their mother is believed to have died some time ago, officials said.