French
Deutsch2025 Drents Museum heist
 The Drents Museum, where the robbery took place | |
| Date | 25 January 2025 |
|---|---|
| Time | 3:45 a.m. |
| Venue | Drents Museum |
| Location | Assen, the Netherlands |
| Coordinates | 52°59′36″N 6°33′51″E / 52.99333°N 6.56417°E |
| Outcome | €6 million worth of items stolen[1] |
| Property damage | Drents Museum due to the used explosives |
| Suspects | Thieves from North Holland |
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On 25 January 2025, thieves broke into the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands, with explosives and stole golden artifacts in a total value of around €6 million.[1] These, which include the Helmet of Coțofenești, with an estimated value of €4.3 million,[1] are irreplaceable archaeological treasures that represent the Dacian civilization, which thrived in present-day Romania before conquest by the Roman Empire in 106 AD. Three gold bracelets from the Dacian royal collection were also stolen. The exhibition, which had never before been displayed internationally at this scale, included items such as ceremonial jewelry and religious objects dating back to the 2nd century BC.[3]
Romania's Ministry of Culture has vowed to do everything possible to retrieve the artifacts, which had been on loan to the Drents Museum from the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest.[4] Harry Tupan, director of the Drents Museum, expressed profound dismay at the theft, describing it as the most significant incident in the museum's 170-year history.[5]
As a result, the Romanian minister of Culture Natalia Intotero fired the director of the National History Museum in Bucharest.
Incident
[edit]Police were alerted following reports of an explosion at 3:45 a.m. local time on 25 January.[5] There was no guard in the museum at the time of the theft.[1] Security camera footage at the site later revealed three hooded people carrying a duffle bag, a crowbar and flashlights before the explosion. The items stolen were part of the exhibition titled "Dacia: Empire of Gold and Silver", featuring archaeological treasures from museums across Romania that was scheduled to close on January 26.[6]
Investigation
[edit]Forensic teams and investigators examined the site and analyzed CCTV footage throughout the day. Authorities are also investigating a vehicle (dark gray Volkswagen Golf) found burning on a nearby road, suspecting it may have been connected to the crime.[5]
Dutch police said it was plausible "that the perpetrators switched vehicles after abandoning the burning car". No suspects have been apprehended yet, but investigators believe multiple people were involved. Interpol was contacted to assist with the case.[7]
After the robbery investigations were conducted in Alkmaar, Witmarsum, Groningen, Assen and Rolde. In the television program Opsporing Verzocht, appeals were made to the people.[8] A sledgehammer was found in the water on the museum grounds, which may have been used in the heist.[9]
On 28 January, it was announced that the suspects are from North Holland.[8] The following day, the Dutch police arrested three suspects in Heerhugowaard, North Holland.[10]
Aftermath
[edit]The museum was closed temporarily due to the theft and is scheduled to reopen on 31 January.[2]
On 27 January, Dutch minister of foreign affairs Caspar Veldkamp spoke to the Romanian minister of foreign affairs Emil Hurezeanu about the theft in Brussels. Veldkamp stated that "The Netherlands is doing everything it can to get the stolen objects back".[9]
Reactions in Romania
[edit]In Romania, the loan agreement was met with criticism.[9] On 28 January, the Romanian minister of Culture Natalia Intotero fired the director of the National History Museum in Bucharest, Ernest Oberländer, because he had "failed to adequately protect the national heritage".[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Politie zoekt tips over gestolen auto in verband met kunstroof". NOS (in Dutch). 26 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Archaeological masterpieces stolen from Drents Museum in Assen". Drents Museum. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "Ancient gold artifacts stolen in Drents museum robbery". NL Times. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ "Theft in Netherlands of ancient golden helmet leaves Romania distraught". AP News. 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b c Aikman, Ian (26 January 2025). "Thieves use explosives to steal gold 'masterpieces' from Dutch museum". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ Wizovich, Eli (27 January 2025). "Art Thieves Blew Up a Dutch Museum's Door to Steal an Ancient Golden Helmet From Romania". Smithsonian Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ Tabachnick, Cara (25 January 2025). "Explosion rocks Dutch museum before gold masterpieces stolen: "This is a dark day"". CBS News. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Verdachten kunstroof komen uit Noord-Holland, directeur Roemeens museum ontslagen". NOS (in Dutch). 28 January 2025. Archived from the original on 29 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Veldkamp: alles op alles zetten om gestolen kunst Drents Museum te vinden". NOS (in Dutch). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "Drie aanhoudingen in Heerhugowaard in verband met kunstroof in Assen". nos.nl (in Dutch). 29 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.