Drents Museum robbery could cost Netherlands €5.8 million if treasures aren't found

The theft of four golden Romanian treasures from the Drents Museum two weeks ago could cost the Dutch State 5.8 million euros if the artifacts aren’t recovered, RTV Drenthe discovered. The Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science confirmed the findings, according to the broadcaster.

The Drents Museum in Assen insured the golden helmet and the three bracelets on loan from Romania for 5.8 million euros. The entire collection of 673 objects is insured for over 30 million euros.

The Dutch government guaranteed just over 9 million euros of that amount. This means that in the event of theft, loss, or damage, the government is partly liable and must pay the damages. Only if the damage amount is more than what the government guaranteed will the museum’s insurance come into play.

If the Romanian treasures are recovered damaged, the government will also pay for these costs.

The government assuming part of the risk in the event of damage or theft means that museums have to pay less for insurance, making it more affordable for them to put on exhibitions. For the Drents Museum, it saved between 25 and 30 percent on premiums for this exhibit, according to the broadcaster.

“It makes it possible for museums to show these kinds of beautiful objects and exhibitions to the public,” Minister Eppo Bruins of Education, Culture, and Science previously told the broadcaster. “Otherwise, it is unaffordable for museums.”

According to the RTV Drenthe, this will be the first time that the government has to pay such a large amount of damages since it started assuming such risks in 1989. To date, the Netherlands has paid out a total of 8,000 euros in damages to works of art. Last year, the government guaranteed almost 469 million euros in works of art loaned to 13 museums.

The police have arrested three suspects in connection with the Drents Museum robbery. A fourth suspect is still at large. The police are working with dozens of detectives and specialists and have given finding the Romanian treasures top priority.

In a remarkable move, the police released the photos and full names of two of the already detained suspects in the hopes that it would help them find the stolen artifacts. So far to no avail. According to the police, the photos were published because the suspects refused to say where the stolen artifacts were.

All three suspects, two men and a woman, are still in custody.

According to Arthur Brand, there is a fifty-fifty chance that the thieves have already melted down these almost pure gold treasures. The fact that the police arrested the suspects quickly gives him hope that they didn’t have time, but their persistence in not telling the police where the artifacts are worries him. “The suspects are not saying anything. You would expect that they would perhaps start talking now, so there is a chance that they may not exist anymore,” Brand said on the television program Eve earlier this week.