Dutch violinist Andre Rieu to replace instruments stolen from people with disabilities

Andre Rieu came to the rescue of a Haarlem brass band for people with mental disabilities. The band lost all their instruments in a theft this week. The world-famous Dutch violinist decided step in and replace all the stolen instruments, RTL Nieuws reports.

The brass band kept their instruments in a trailer. When they arrived at the trailer on Thursday morning, they found that someone had broken in and stolen all their instruments. Together the instruments were valued at around 20 thousand euros.

Rieu told the Telegraaf that his "heart broke" when he heard about the theft. "I find this really outrageous and that is why I decided to arrange new instruments for the brass band", he said.

Juria van der Lubbe, chairman of the brass band, is overwhelmed by Rieu's offer to help. "This is fantastic and almost unbelievable", she said, according to RTL. "What a lovely man that he will do this for our brass band."