Hammer found on terrain of Drents Museum after robbery; Museum reopening Friday
The police have found a hammer in the water on the grounds of the Drents Museum in Assen that may have been used in a burglary on Saturday in which several archeological masterpieces were stolen. The sledgehammer was found near the door where the burglars entered, the police said on Monday. The museum will reopen on Friday.
The thieves entered the museum by setting off an explosive early Saturday morning, breaking several windows. They stole four golden archaeological masterpieces that were on loan from a museum in Romania. The perpetrators were filmed during the break-in, but have not been arrested yet.
Mayor Marco Out of Assen has been in contact with several layers of government since the theft, he said on the museum’s website. “The King’s Commissioner and deputy have visited the site. Several Ministries are involved, including Foreign Affairs,” the mayor told the broadcaster. “Of course, I sympathize with the owner of these pieces, the museum in Romania. Assen and the Drents Museum are closely linked, which is why I sympathize with the employees and management. This is something you don’t want as a museum, but also as a city and province.”
The perpetrators made off with a golden helmet and three golden bracelets. They have considerable historical and financial value, and Romania is understandably furious about the theft.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof spoke briefly with the Romanian Minister of Culture Natalia Intotero on Monday before they both attended the Auschwitz commemoration in Poland, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister told ANP. Schoof stressed that the theft was “terrible” and that the Netherlands was doing everything in its power to catch the perpetrators. The Dutch authorities will work closely with the Romanian authorities in this investigation, Schoof said.
The thieves used a Volkswagen Polo stolen in Alkmaar on Wednesday night as a getaway car in the art theft. The police found the car burnt out under a viaduct in Rolde a short time after the burglary. The car belonged to 24-year-old Rudy, a relative and his spokesperson told RTL Nieuws. “It is a very sad and strange story,” the relative said. “[Rudy] is really down in the dumps.” The young man saved a long time for the car, which he used to drive to work. It wasn’t insured against theft.
