Dutch police arrested three Dutch citizens from Heerhugowaard in North Holland in connection with the theft of four archaeological masterpieces from Romania, following an intensive four-day hunt. RTÉ reported that the arrests were made "thanks to the detectives' investigation, camera recordings, and numerous tips from the public," and the suspects are currently in pre-trial detention under full restrictions, meaning they can only speak with their lawyers.
The Drents Museum, from which the artifacts were stolen, welcomed the arrests and expressed hope for the recovery of the stolen items. "The recovery of the stolen art objects would be 'a fantastic next step' for all involved, not only for us, but especially for the Romanian people," the museum stated, according to De Standaard. "We have great respect for the investigative services that have tackled this terrible case so adequately, and we are eagerly awaiting further developments," the museum added.
The authorities are continuing their search for a fourth male suspect linked to the art theft. RTÉ reported that earlier, Dutch police released a photograph of another suspect wanted in connection with the case.
The theft occurred during a violent break-in on Friday night, when thieves blasted the museum doors and stole several archaeological pieces, including the approximately 2,500-year-old golden Helmet of Cotofenesti and three gold Dacian bracelets. De Standaard noted that these artifacts are of great historical importance to Romania. A nearly one-kilogram golden helmet from the 5th century BCE is considered part of Romania's national heritage.
The Romanian government stated that the stolen archaeological objects should not have been allowed to leave the country, resulting in the loss of inestimable cultural heritage. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said he wants to file a damage claim. According to De Morgen, the director of the National Museum of Romanian History in Bucharest accused the Drents Museum of lacking proper security. The Romanian museum director was himself dismissed because he allegedly did not protect the masterpieces properly.
The investigation into the art theft is ongoing. NRC Handelsblad reported that the suspects are currently in custody and are being interrogated.
The high-profile robbery reignited a debate about museum security and the type of display cases that should be installed. The director of the Drents Museum stated that "additional security measures had been taken for the stolen works." He believes they "had fulfilled" their obligations regarding security, as reported by the same source. De Morgen highlighted that during the burglary, no security guard was present at the Drents Museum.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq