The Incident

Coinciding with the museum's ongoing exhibition Dacia - Realm of Gold and Silver, the explosion, caught on CCTV camera was engineered by at least three accomplices and facilitated their entry into the building from the landscaped area above the museum's underground extension.  The exhibition showcased 673 artefacts from Romania, many made of gold and silver and offered visitors a glimpse into the grandeur of the Dacian culture that once thrived in the area of modern-day Romania from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE.

Public park and garden above Drents Museum underground extension

During the burglary, four priceless artefacts were recorded by Dutch Politie as having been stolen.  They are:

• Three gold spiral Dacian bracelets, dating from the 1st century BCE - 1st century CE. They were originally found at the Sarmizegetusa Regia archaeological site, one of the six Dacian fortification systems included on the UNESCO Heritage List.
• The golden helmet of Coțofenești, from the 5th century BCE.  This masterpiece of Geto-Dacian craftsmanship was discovered by children after a heavy rainstorm in 1927. 

Shortly after the explosion at the museum authorities also discovered a burned-out vehicle at 4:15 a.m. at the intersection of Grolloërstraat and Marwijksoord with the N33, near Rolde. It is not yet known if the thieves were connected to the museum's theft, but it is being speculated that the culprits may have transferred to another waiting car after setting the first ablaze.

Looted Twice Over

Stolen from the Drents Museum - Image Credit: Vibeke Berens

Sarmizegetusa Regia archaeological site

Six of these bracelets are believed to have passed through the hands of one antiquities collector, Ilic Ljubisa, believed to have been the organizer of a group of traffickers known as the "Serbian cartel" which operated out of Zurich.  Ljubisa bought three pairs of the gold spirals and is believed to have been involved in their transport to Belgrade.

Once in circulation, the bracelets were dispersed into private collections in several countries.  Of the 24 spirals stolen between 1998 and 2001, only 13 were recovered by Romanian authorities with the assistance of collaborating law enforcement agencies in eight countries, including the United States, Germany, Serbia and Switzerland, many of which had to be purchased back from good faith purchasers.  The last was returned in May 2011 and despite the heavy costs involved, their recovery was hailed as a major victory for the protection of cultural heritage.

Sadly discussing the Drents Museum theft, former Prosecutor General of Romania, Augustin Lazăr, who worked the looting case for ten years, informed Radio Romania that:

Stolen from the Drents Museum Image Credit: Vibeke Berens

The golden helmet of Coțofeneșt                                                                Weighing in at .72608 kilograms, this Getae helmet's discovery in the Romanian village of Poiana Varbilau in 1929 spared it from being lost, unlike many pieces of Romania’s National Treasury confiscated by  Russia in 1916.  It serves as a vivid reminder of the wealth and culture of these ancient peoples as craftsmen and artists.

Can (and should) priceless art be displayed in Museums?

The Drents Museum theft raises significant questions about the security needed for internationally loaned artefacts and the persistent risks tied to high-value museum thefts like those we have witnessed these past months. 

Exhibitions like Dacia - Realm of Gold and Silver or Luxe de poche. Petits objets précieux au siècle des Lumières at the the Musée Cognacq-Jay which both suffered thefts, aim to bring cultures together by sharing the marvels of our past with the world, and by fostering a greater appreciation for our shared human history.  However, incidents like these expose the real vulnerabilities inherent in displaying priceless treasures in museum settings as for every step these institutions take to make global heritage more accessible, they also must grapple with the complex challenge of safeguarding irreplaceable pieces from increasingly violent and sophisticated criminals.

While cultural exchange through artefact loans enriches global understanding, museums thefts while objects are on loan can also discourage future collaborations making these recent thefts that much more painful. Along the same theme, museums face mounting pressure to balance public access with enhanced security protocols, a task made even more daunting with limited budgets or when, like this weekend, thieves utilise heavy explosives to cary out their crimes.  

A Reflection on Yesterday's Loss

The looting of cultural heritage is not merely a theft of snuff boxes where diamonds can be pried off or Dacian gold that can be melted down, but the theft of history, identity, and shared human achievement.  To understand how these golden bracelets made their way out of Romania and onto the antiquities market, Boston-based Kogainon Films, interviewed many people, including Hungarian born and London-based antiquities dealer William Veres for a documentary film that explored the complexity of this 10+ year investigation. 

That three of these artefacts now find themselves stolen for a second time is a grim reminder of the ever-pressing challenges faced in protecting the past while still allowing for public access to cultural material which shaped our existence. 

Can you help?

Dutch Authorities are urging anyone who may have been near the Drents Museum, the site of the car fire, or along any potential escape route to come forward with any information which could prove beneficial to their investigation. If you noticed unusual activity, suspicious individuals, or vehicles between 3:00 and 4:30 a.m. on January 25, your observations may be critical to learning more about the suspects in this case.

Residents are encouraged to check any available footage from doorbell cameras or dashcams during that time frame as even minor details might provide a significant lead.

Do you have tips or information about the explosion, burglary, or the stolen artifacts? Did you see individuals lingering near the museum in the days leading up to the heist? Have you heard anything about the whereabouts of the stolen treasures, which may already be circulating in criminal circles?

If so, please contact the authorities through the following channels:

• Tip Line: 0800-6070
• Online Tip Form: Accessible via the police website
• Anonymous Reporting: Meld Misdaad Anoniem at 0800-7000
• Criminal Intelligence Team: For confidential tips, call 088-6617734

In urgent cases, dial 112. Every piece of information counts in the effort to recover these priceless cultural treasures.

The Musée du Hiéron was already the victim of a burglary on 29 June 2017.  At the time, two gold Romay crowns: la couronne de Notre Dame de Romay and the couronne celle de l'Enfant Jésus, created by goldsmith Paul Brunet in 1897, were stolen.

On Sunday, 25 September 2022, a second burglary attempt occurred at around 4am, when three would-be thieves again tried to access the room that houses the "Via Vitæ", by attempting a break-in at the window.  Luckily, that time the alarm sounded and the would-be burglars fled empty-handed, in their haste, leaving behind the ladder they had used to access the window.

Impact on the Local Community

The impact of this week's theft on Paray-le-Monial, a town with a population of just over 10,000, has to been profound. For the residents and the staff at the Hiéron Museum, the loss of these objects is more than just a financial blow; it’s a cultural tragedy which sends ripples of concern across the tight-knit community, where the  cultural institution serves as a touchstone for local identity and pride. 

A Broader Concern for Small Museums

The Hiéron Museum theft is part of a troubling global trend that highlights the vulnerability of small cultural institutions to criminal activity.  Museums, galleries, churches, and private collectors have long been targets for thieves seeking to profit from the illicit sale of stolen goods, with plundered religious material being highly prized.

One of the most troubling aspects of the yesterday's theft is the nature of the stolen items.  The pieces were not just valuable in a monetary sense but also as sacred and irreplaceable symbols of people's beliefs and traditions. Theft will always be a tragedy for museums, but when it involves beloved artworks that have been part of a community’s fabric, the loss is truly and deeply felt. 

"The Fulford Thefts" occurred in 1981 when Temple Newsam House in Leeds was burglarised in a nighttime heist, resulting in the loss of 24 exquisite snuffboxes.   In that incident, the culprits, operating under the cover of darkness, targeted these highly valuable items due to their intricate craftsmanship and historical significance. The incident was named after the notorious criminal gang linked to the thefts, and remains one of the most notable art crimes in UK history from a stately home.  The recovery of some pieces from this theft took decades. 

On June 10, 2003, the Johnson gang carried out a high-profile theft at Waddesdon Manor, a historic estate in Buckinghamshire, England. The gang broke into the Rothschild collection housed at the manor and stole over 100 priceless items, including a significant collection of antique gold snuff boxes. The meticulously planned raid lasted only minutes, during which the thieves targeted small but immensely valuable £5 million collection, due to their portability and worth. 

The Cognacq-Jay museum has specified that it is closed while the investigation is underway and that it will reopen on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.  People who have purchased advanced tickets for the “Luxe de Poche” exhibition or for other activities will be automatically refunded.