EXPLOSION AND THEFT AT DRENTS MUSEUM

A major theft at the Drents Museum in Assen has resulted in the loss of valuable gold and silver artifacts from the Dacia – Rijk van Goud en Zilver (Dacia – Kingdom of Gold and Silver) exhibition, which was in its final weekend.

The robbery occurred early Saturday morning following an explosion at the museum. Among the items taken were three gold bracelets and the exhibition's centerpiece, the golden helmet of Cotofenesti, which had been featured in all promotional material. Additional objects may also have been stolen.

The explosion shattered several windows, allowing the thieves to break into the museum, said Debby Homans, an officer of justice, during a press conference held at the site. Police are investigating a suspicious vehicle and are urging nearby residents to share any footage they may have of the explosion.

The exhibition featured over 600 gold and silver objects from at least 15 museums across Romania, with highlights including three golden bracelets and the crown jewel of the collection, a golden helmet. Museum director Harry Tupan confirmed that damage was inflicted on display cases in the exhibit room. A Romanian delegation is set to visit on Sunday.

Extra security was in place for the exhibition, though there was no guard stationed in the exhibition hall. "However, everything was professionally recorded," Tupan said. Tupan was unable to say when the museum would reopen, though it is expected to be discussed on Monday.

“This is an incredibly dark day,” Tupan said. “We are deeply shocked and heartbroken that items belonging to our Romanian colleagues have been stolen. It's not just gold; this is cultural heritage.” Tupan noted that the museum has received support from King's Commissioner for Drenthe Jetta Klijnsma and Minister of the Interior Judith Uitermark.

Brand also expressed concerns about the likelihood of recovering the stolen artifacts, explaining that gold is often melted down for its material value, citing similar cases, including the 2017 theft of a 100-kilogram gold coin in Berlin and a Roman gold treasure stolen in Munich. Neither was recovered.

“This is a nightmare scenario for any museum,” Brand said. “Paintings are often stolen with the intent to sell or return them later. But gold is stolen to be melted down. For Romania, this is a disaster; this collection was significant national heritage.”

Georges adds:

To read the complete article, see:
Ancient gold artifacts stolen in Drents museum robbery (https://nltimes.nl/2025/01/25/ancient-gold-artifacts-stolen-drents-museum-robbery)

See also:
Explosion rocks Dutch museum before gold masterpieces stolen (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/explosion-rocks-dutch-museum-before-gold-masterpieces-stolen/ar-AA1xRrWw)
« Nous sommes très choqu€s » : un mus€e victime d'un cambriolage (https://www.lesoir.be/650821/article/2025-01-25/nous-sommes-tres-choques-un-musee-victime-dun-cambriolage)
Dacia – Empire of gold and silver (https://drentsmuseum.nl/en/exhibitions/dacia-empire-of-gold-and-silver)
Le trésor de Pietroasa (Roumanie) (début 5e siècle) (http://moneta.be/volumes/moneta_075.htm)

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