Dutch Police Investigate Possible Romanian Involvement in Museum Dacian Treasure Heist

0

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

In the case of Romania’s Dacian treasure stolen in the Netherlands, the Dutch press has information that the police are also investigating the possibility that Romanian citizens were involved in the robbery and that the three perpetrators had an accomplice.

According to information obtained by De Telegraaf from people involved in the Dutch police investigation, the 35-person team tends to believe that the thieves fled to Germany, but, as a Dutch police spokesperson publicly stated, other leads are also being investigated.

The Dutch authorities do not rule out that Romanian criminals are directly or indirectly involved in the robbery and that the three thieves had an accomplice, the Dutch publication also writes.

Currently, surveillance camera recordings are being analyzed, a procedure that could take longer. The institution is also appealing to people to communicate any information that could be related to the theft of the Coțofenești Helmet and the three gold bracelets.

Radu Marinescu, the Minister of Justice, told Digi24 that he could not comment on the information that Romanian citizens were among the perpetrators: “The legitimate indignation, in the context of the theft of these goods, is likely to create a series of speculations, interpretations, discussions. Rigor, however, must characterize the investigation. These things must be established through the administration of evidence, through the conduct of an effective and laborious investigation,” the minister concluded.

Minister Marinescu also said that in Romania, “very rapid steps were taken” to set up a crisis cell at the government level. The Ministry of Justice is part of this crisis cell. As soon as we learned about this extremely harmful event for our national interests, we communicated with the Prosecutor General of the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, we consulted and the judicial bodies opened a file regarding this theft of assets from our national heritage,” Radu Marinescu said.

In his turn, the management of the National Museum of History of Romania organized a press conference at which representatives from the Ministry of Culture were also present.

Among the most important clarifications of the museum director, Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, were that the statement sent by the Dutch museum management stated the existence of a 24-hour checkpoint, but that the Romanian institution could not verify whether there was physical security “from 1,700 kilometers away. These aspects are included in the contract, including our specific requirements, such as special anti-theft display cases. The objects that were stolen were placed in these special display cases”.

The director further presented that the security system was checked by the exhibition’s insurance company and by a team from the Romanian museum:

“The insurer, a large Dutch company, requested that the security system be strengthened, by adding elements to block access to emergency exits, windows and other spaces. This is the first robbery in which explosives were used in the case of a European museum. It was entered from the outside, so it is not a practice in the current system, until now”.

Târnoveanu also explained that the entire exhibition was insured for the sum of 30 million euros. He said that he could not reveal the exact amount for the Coțofenești Helmet or for the three Dacian bracelets, as this is information necessary for the investigations launched by the authorities: “If the object is not recovered, the insurer will pay the amount written in the contract. We wrote in the application that, if the asset is recovered, it must be returned to the Romanian state”.

According to police, the robbery took place at 04:45 (Romanian time) on Saturday. No victims have been reported and no suspects have been arrested so far. Authorities suspect that several people were involved in this operation. Police are also investigating a suspicious vehicle, set on fire near the museum, which there is information that may be related to the robbery. At the same time, they are asking for the support of civilians who have surveillance cameras or dashboard cameras on their cars, to help find the thieves.

Details about the Romanian stolen treasure items

The National Museum of History of Romania (MNIR) has issued an official statement regarding the Dacian pieces stolen in the Netherlands. According to the MNIR, four pieces of heritage were stolen: the gold helmet from Coțofenești (dated to the 5th-4th centuries BC) and three gold Dacian bracelets from Sarmizegetusa Regia (dated to the second half of the 1st century BC).

“From the information provided by Dutch colleagues, who had limited access to the exhibition space, the other pieces on display do not appear to have been the object of the robbery. All pieces were secured before being sent to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in accordance with Romanian legislation and international practices regarding the organization of exhibitions. Both the space and the display cases in which the heritage goods were presented were secured and had surveillance systems installed, as well as alarm systems connected to the local police, who were thus able to intervene immediately,” the MNIR further states.

The museum also explains that, within the exhibition, 673 archaeological goods made of precious metals from the national heritage of Romania were exhibited, the exhibition having a number of over 77,000 visitors. The exhibition was open to the public starting with July 7, 2024 and was scheduled to close on January 26, 2025.

Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, director of the National Museum of History of Romania, told Digi24 that, based on information he received, the thieves broke through the only exterior wall of a reinforced concrete building and went straight to the display cases where the Dacian pieces were displayed.

Târnoveanu explained that the hoard included 673 pieces of gold and silver, from the Bronze Age and the First and Second Iron Ages. In addition to the bracelets from Sarmizegetuza, from the second half of the 1st century BC, another stolen object is the Coțofenești Helmet, which the director said “illustrates the behavior of the Getae elites and is, at the same time, a testimony to religious practices. As for the bracelets from Sarmizegetuza, they speak of royalty and religion.”

Târnoveanu detailed that the exhibition would close on Sunday and that the Romanian museum employees would leave for the Netherlands to pack and bring the collection back to the country. The Ministry of Culture reported that all the exhibited pieces were insured, according to Romanian legislation and international standards.

Romanian President-Dutch PM phone talk

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis had a telephone conversation with the Dutch Prime Minister, a few hours after the theft. “Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof assured Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Saturday, January 25, 2025, that the Dutch authorities are taking all necessary steps to identify the perpetrators and recover the treasure. The official also expressed his deep regret for this unprecedented incident, with a special significance for the Romanian people,” a statement from the Presidential Administration said.

PM orders crisis cell

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announces that a crisis cell has been organized at the Government level and that he is sending the Control Body to the Ministry of Culture to verify all the documentation regarding the exhibition of Dacian objects at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands, from where the Golden Helmet of Coţofeneşti and three Dacian gold bracelets were stolen on Saturday.

“I have decided to organize a crisis cell at the Government level for the efficient coordination of activities related to the recovery of the four pieces of treasure stolen from the exhibition organized at the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands. This crisis cell includes representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Romanian Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture,” Ciolacu announced in a post on his Facebook page.

“In addition, we discussed with Interior Minister Predoiu to urgently send a team of forensic police officers to the Netherlands to work alongside the Dutch authorities in the investigation carried out to recover the Romanian treasure. And we requested that Romanian experts urgently travel to the Netherlands and ensure the rapid return of the other pieces of heritage that were the subject of this exhibition to the country,” Ciolacu stated.

“It is a very serious situation, but this robbery, which must be resolved quickly, must not become fuel for the propagation of all kinds of conspiracy theories by those who want to obtain easy political capital,” Ciolacu added, assuring that “the treasure will return to Romania and all state authorities are working on this.”

Museum Commission Head on Dacian Theft: “A Terrorist Act, Loss for Humanity”

Emanuel Viorel Petac, president of the National Commission of Museums and Collections, declared in the press conference at the National Museum of History of Romania that the theft of the four objects from the Romanian heritage is “a terrorist act” and that “a new stage of criminality has been entered”.
“It’s a terrorist act. We all need to realize that we have entered a new stage of criminality. If someone manages to plant a bomb, blow up the wall of a museum to steal from inside, we are aware of this new relationship and we need to adapt. It is of incredible gravity because it is about the professionalization of networks. Regarding the value and recovery of the insurance value, I think it is irrelevant. From our point of view, the money doesn’t matter, which, of course, had to exist to insure the property, but the artifacts are essential. It’s not just heritage, they are pieces of universal value. It is a damage to humanity,” said Petac.
“It was an action from outside,” said Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, director of the MNIR.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the Netherlands. In November 2024, thieves blew up the door of an art gallery in the south of the Netherlands in an attempt to steal four works from a famous series of Andy Warhol silkscreens, but damaged all of them and managed to escape with only two. The incident took place at the MPV Gallery in the city of Oisterwijk.
Minister Burduja: We need to find out if the theft of the Dacian treasure was orchestrated to manipulate the nationalist vein on the eve of the elections
The theft of the Dacian treasure in the Netherlands is an international disgrace and we must find out if it was orchestrated to manipulate the nationalist vein on the eve of the elections, believes the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja.
Personal opinion. The theft of the Dacian treasure from the Netherlands is an international shame! Toxic extremists are trying to seize the topic along the lines of a domestic political attack. But here it is about how another state did not ensure the protection of priceless objects, and the host museum did not respect the contract. Again, the solution is not to isolate ourselves from the world, it is a good thing that we promote our history and values ​​as part of the universal heritage because everyone needs to know the greatness of this people. Just as it is good to receive valuable things from all over the world in the museums and exhibition spaces of our country,” Burduja wrote on Facebook. “At the same time, I am forced to ask myself, as a citizen of Romania: how was it possible that, in a museum in a European country, in 2025, thieves could enter with explosives and steal priceless pieces of heritage, without the museum providing human security, according to the contract, and without the police intervening in a timely manner?”, the minister continued.
“Our cybersecurity experts must mobilize and find these scoundrels, who must clog the prison for many years to come! It is an act of patriotism and national solidarity that the best cybersecurity specialists that Romania has now collaborate with our institutions! Moreover, we must find out if the theft was orchestrated to manipulate the nationalist vein on the eve of the elections. We must find out the truth and punish the perpetrators. Romania is strong and united. These things must unite us, not divide us even more. Many questions, few answers. Time is of the essence now, and those who made mistakes must be held accountable urgently. Courage, Romania”, the Minister of Energy also wrote.
DONATE: Support our work
In an ever changing and challenging world, the media is constantly struggling to resist. Romania Journal makes no exception. We’ve been informing you, our readers, for almost 10 years, as extensively as we can, but, as we reject any state funding and private advertising is scarce, we need your help to keep on going.
So, if you enjoy our work, you can contribute to endorse the Romania Journal team. Any amount is welcome, no strings attached. Choose to join with one of the following options:
Donate with PayPal
Donate by Bank Wire
Black Zonure SRL
UniCredit Bank. Swift: BACXROBU
RON: RO84 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1000
EURO: RO57 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1001
USD: RO30 BACX 0000 0022 3589 1002

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.