Security system failed during Drents Museum gold theft, says Romanian curator
The security system at the Drents Museum failed to function properly during the theft of a golden helmet and three golden bracelets from the Dacia exhibition, according to Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, former director of the National History Museum in Bucharest. Oberländer-Târnoveanu, who also served as a guest curator for the exhibition, expressed his concerns about the museum's security measures in an interview with Dagblad van het Noorden.
Almost two months after the theft, Oberländer-Târnoveanu remains frustrated by the unanswered questions surrounding the incident. Despite this, he hopes that the stolen items may eventually be recovered, suggesting that significant efforts are underway behind the scenes. "I think there's a lot happening behind the scenes," he said. "The stakes are high. This is very damaging for the Netherlands. After this blow, Dutch museums will be internationally avoided like the plague."
The stolen items, which include the famous golden helmet of Coțofenești and three golden bracelets, were taken in the night between January 24 and 25, during a violent break-in. Oberländer-Târnoveanu emphasized that the security system, which is supposed to activate a thick, milky smoke to obscure vision and protect the items in the event of a theft, did not perform as expected.
“The exhibition room should have been filled within seconds with a dense, milky smoke, making it impossible to see anything—not even your own hands,” Oberländer-Târnoveanu said. “However, in Assen, the smoke developed too slowly. Why didn’t the mechanism work properly?”
The former museum director also questioned how quickly the display cases were broken into. “What I also don’t understand is: how could the vitrines be broken so quickly?” he asked.
The trial continues as prosecutors focus on the evidence against the key suspects. Two of the suspects, Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, are said to have visited the museum weeks prior to the crime, a detail which is reportedly part of the investigation. Despite forensic evidence connecting both men to the theft, they have denied any involvement, with each claiming innocence.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has linked the suspects to the crime through DNA evidence found on clothing discarded in a trash bin in Assen, the day after the theft. The clothing, which contained glass shards, reportedly matches the glass from the museum’s display cases.
In addition to the DNA evidence, authorities claim a payment card linked to Zeeman was used to purchase fuel shortly before the heist. Still, the defense argues that there is no direct footage or conclusive evidence connecting the suspects to the crime.
In response to questions about the theft, the Drents Museum declined to give a comment to Dagblad van het Noorden on the specifics of the incident, citing the ongoing investigation. "In the interest of the investigation, the Drents Museum will not make any statements regarding the circumstances of the theft," a spokesperson said.
