Gold Heist Shocks Dutch Museum: Explosives Used to Steal Priceless Artifacts

Robbers Use Explosives to Steal Gold Masterpieces from Dutch Museum

In the early hours of Saturday morning, thieves used explosives to break into the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, and made off with several priceless gold artifacts, museum officials reported.

Details of the Robbery

At approximately 3:45 a.m. local time, police responded to an explosion at the museum. Upon arrival, officers found extensive damage to the building and confirmed that several valuable items were missing. Among the stolen artifacts were a gold Coțofenești helmet, on loan from Romania’s National History Museum, and three Dacian royal bracelets. These treasures were part of the museum’s “Dacia – Empire of Gold and Silver” exhibition.

Museum Reacts

Harry Tupan, general director of the Drents Museum, described the event as a devastating blow. “This is a dark day for the Drents Museum and the National History Museum of Romania. In its 170-year existence, there has never been such a major incident,” Tupan said in a statement. The museum has since been closed while police conduct a thorough investigation.

Investigation Underway

Authorities suspect that multiple individuals were involved in the heist. Around 4:15 a.m., police were alerted to a car fire in the vicinity, but the vehicle was empty upon arrival. Investigators believe the suspects abandoned the burning car and switched to another vehicle nearby.

Dutch police have appealed to the public for assistance. Residents near the museum have been asked to review doorbell camera or dashcam footage from between 3:00 and 4:30 a.m. Authorities are also seeking witnesses who may have noticed unusual activity near the museum in recent days.

A Significant Loss

The stolen items, including the 2,400-year-old Coțofenești helmet, hold immense historical and cultural value. The National History Museum of Romania and the Drents Museum are working closely with law enforcement to recover the artifacts and bring the perpetrators to justice.

No injuries were reported in the incident, and as of now, no arrests have been made.

]Reference News :- Explosion rocks Dutch museum before gold masterpieces stolen