Amsterdam  - Four children died in a fire in their home in the eastern Dutch town of Kampen, the municipality's spokesperson told reporters on Wednesday.

The fire erupted in the night of Tuesday into Wednesday. The four boys, aged one, four, six and eight, could not escape. Their parents and ten sisters managed to flee safely.

Firefighters have extinguished the last flames. Officials said it was yet unknown what caused the fire. The mayor of Kampen visited the site and expressed his empathy with the family.

Kampen in the eastern Netherlands is part of the so-called "Bible Belt," an area running from the country's west to its eastern central region populated with orthodox Protestants who often have large families. (dpa)