Fire causes massive damage to Stedelijk Museum Zwolle collection
An overnight fire in the Stedelijk Museum in Zwolle caused massive damage to multiple valuable artworks. The damage is estimated in the hundreds of thousands of euros, De Stentor reports.
The fire department responded to the museum around 00:15 a.m. The fire started on the ground floor of the old part of the museum and spread to the walls and ceiling. The fire brigade quickly managed to get it under control, but as the old part of the museum is one large area, the smoke easily spread through the building.
According to the fire department, considerable damage was done to the back of the museum. Several precious paintings at the back of the ground floor sustained smoke, soot and head damage. Paintings in other parts of the museum may also have been damaged, according to the newspaper.
The fire department carefully ventilated the building, as to cause no further damage to the artworks inside. A fire brigade investigation team is trying to figure out what caused the fire. The Salvage Foundation was already at the museum on behalf of the insurers.
The Stedelijk Museum may be closed to visitors for some time.
