Robbers trigger major explosion at Oisterwijk gallery in daring art heist; Warhols taken

A major explosion during a robbery at the MPV Gallery on Dorpsstraat in Oisterwijk late Thursday night left extensive damage in the area. The incident, described as an art heist involving powerful explosives, shattered windows in about ten nearby buildings and caused advertising signs at local shops to break.

Mark Peet Visser, the gallery owner, stated that two of the stolen works have been recovered but the other two remain missing. The pieces are by Andy Warhol, though Visser declined to disclose their value in an interview with Hart van Nederland.

According to reports from Omroep Brabant, the blast was so powerful that it blew the front door off the gallery, allowing the thieves to escape with several valuable artworks. The explosion could be heard throughout Oisterwijk, highlighting the severity of the incident. Local officials are investigating the robbery and assessing the full extent of the damage caused by the explosion.

The suspects fled the scene in a Peugeot, which was later discovered abandoned on Wolvensteeg. Authorities cordoned off the area around the vehicle due to concerns that explosives may still be present inside.

Art detective and theft expert Arthur Brand highlights several noteworthy aspects of the recent heist. "A bomb is rarely, if ever, used in these crimes, and the use of explosives indicates that the perpetrators are more serious than traditional art thieves," he told the Telegraaf.

"Additionally, the stolen pieces were modern works, while art thieves usually target works by old masters. However, modern pieces are much easier to sell."

The gallery’s collection includes work by British artist Antony Micallef, French visual artist Raymond Hains, Belgian artist Stief Desmet, Mexican sculptor Javier Marin, Dutch artist Hans van Bentem, Dutch photographer and painter Marc Mulders, and several others.

Two exhibitions are also currently running, featuring works by Frech sculptor Sylvestre Gauvrit and German sculptor and painter Willi Siber.