Dutch government pays €5.7 million for Romanian artifacts stolen from Drents Museum

The Dutch government has paid 5.7 million euros in connection with a major art theft at the Drents Museum early last year, on January 25, in which a golden helmet from Romania was among the stolen objects, according to a letter sent to the Tweede Kamer in The Hague by caretaker Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Gouke Moes (BBB).

The payment was made to insurer AON, a global insurance broker, Moes said. AON had earlier paid the same 5.7 million euros to Romania after assessing the loss based on the insured value of the four stolen objects.

Among the items taken were three gold bracelets and the exhibition's centerpiece, the golden helmet of Cotofenesti. The items are Romanian heritage artifacts and are considered to be of significant cultural value.

In his letter to parliament, Moes said he hopes the stolen works will still be recovered. He wrote, "Despite the arranged financial settlement, the event remains a profound loss for all those involved in the Netherlands and Romania."

Three men from Heerhugowaard—Douglas Chesley W., 36; Bernhard Z., 35; and Jan B., 21—are considered the main suspects and have been formally indicted. They remain in custody and have so far refused to make statements. All three face charges for theft, causing an explosion, and damaging the museum. Four additional suspects, accused of playing supporting roles in the theft, have been released from detention but remain suspects.

Prosecutors said the suspects forced their way into the Drents Museum using a fireworks bomb and sledgehammers. CCTV footage shows masked figures entering the building shortly before the explosion, which shattered a glass door and display cases. Investigators said the suspects exploited known weaknesses in the museum’s display case construction.

The Drents Museum declined to comment further on the government’s payment. “This arrangement was already known to us. We do not wish to comment further,” a museum spokesperson said.