Update: Suspects Arrested Following Dutch Museum Heist
Three individuals have been apprehended concerning the brazen theft of ancient Romanian gold artefacts from a Dutch museum. The Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, confirmed the arrests on Wednesday afternoon following the release of suspect images by Dutch police.
The heist occurred on January 24th, when thieves used explosives to blow open the museum doors, hosting the exhibition “Dacia—Empire of Gold and Silver.” The showcase featured some of Romania’s most treasured cultural relics, including a 2,500-year-old gold Cotofenesti helmet valued at an astonishing €4.3 million.
The audacious theft has sparked outrage, with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressing his dismay. “Like all Romanians, I am outraged that objects from the Romanian Treasures collection were stolen from a Dutch museum with no guards,” he stated. “I strongly believe we can…”
The arrests mark a significant step in the investigation, though questions remain about the security measures at the time of the theft. The incident has reignited discussions about protecting cultural heritage and the challenges of safeguarding priceless artefacts on loan to international institutions.
ASSEN, Netherlands—On Saturday, thieves broke into the Drents Museum in the northern Dutch city of Assen in a dramatic pre-dawn heist. They used explosives to breach its doors and made off with four ancient artefacts, including a rare gold helmet dating back some 2,500 years.
The daring theft, which unfolded at 3:45 a.m. local time, was captured on security footage. The video shows suspects forcing open an exterior door before detonating an explosive device that sent sparks and smoke billowing. Among the stolen treasures were three Dacian gold bracelets, estimated from around 50 BC, and the Helmet of Cotofenesti, a masterpiece of 5th-century BC craftsmanship loaned from the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest.
The items were part of the museum’s summer exhibition, Dacia: Empire of Gold and Silver, showcasing the ancient Dacians’ wealth and artistry. This civilization once thrived in present-day Romania before being subsumed into the Roman Empire. The exhibition was due to conclude Sunday, but the museum has remained closed since the robbery.
The Helmet of Cotofenesti, heralded as a “masterpiece” by the Drents Museum, features mythological scenes and an intricately worked design, including a pair of eyes believed to ward off the “evil eye” and strike fear into enemies. The artefact was discovered in a Romanian village nearly a century ago and carries profound cultural and historical significance.
Police say the explosion caused significant damage to the museum’s premises, though no injuries were reported. Investigators are now working with Interpol to trace the artefacts and apprehend the culprits. More than 50 tips have been received as of Sunday, and authorities are focusing on a grey car stolen from the nearby city of Alkmaar earlier in the week. The vehicle was found burned out just four miles from the museum shortly after the heist, leading investigators to believe the thieves switched to another getaway car.
“This is a dark day for the Drents Museum and for the National History Museum of Romania,” said Harry Tupan, general director of the Drents Museum, in a statement. “In its 170-year existence, the museum has never faced an incident of this magnitude. It’s deeply saddening, particularly for our Romanian colleagues who entrusted us with these treasures.”
The heist marks a stunning end to an otherwise celebrated exhibition that shines a spotlight on the splendour of an ancient culture. The theft now casts a shadow over the artefacts’ fate as investigators race against time to recover them.
The museum put out the following statement:
On the night of 24-25 January 2025, several archaeological pieces were stolen from the Drents Museum. These were masterpieces from the exhibition Dacia – Empire of Gold and Silver, including the Coțofenești helmet (c.450 BC) from the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest. Around 03:45 am, police received a report of an explosion. At the scene, it became clear that access had been gained to the property by forcing a door with explosives. UPDATE 7:49 p.m.: Four objects are missing; three bracelets were taken in addition to Coțofenești’s helmet.
General director of the Drents Museum, Harry Tupan: ‘This is a dark day for the Drents Museum in Assen and the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest. We are intensely shocked by the events last night at the museum. In its 170-year existence, there has never been such a major incident. It also gives us enormous sadness towards our colleagues in Romania. The police are investigating, we are awaiting the outcome of that.’
Mayor of Assen, Marco Out: ‘After the events, there was contact with the King’s Commissioner and the Deputy, who came to the scene. Several ministries are involved, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Like others, I am shocked. I naturally sympathise with the owner of these pieces, the museum in Bucharest, Romania. Assen and the Drents Museum are closely linked, so I sympathise with the museum’s staff and management. This is something you don’t want as a museum but also as a city and province.’
Police are conducting further investigations at the scene today. Among other things, neighbourhood searches are being conducted, forensic investigation is in place and CCTV footage is being requested and reviewed. The police are committed to locating both the suspects and the stolen masterpieces. In doing so, the investigation team has also decided to involve Interpol. It is an international organisation that helps police organisations prevent and fight crime. For more information on the investigation, please visit the police website. Here, you can read, among other things, how to contact the police to pass on a tip or share camera images.
Coțofenești helmet, 450 BCE, National History Museum of Romania. (Top Photo: Ing. Marius Amarie)