On January 25, Romanian artifacts, such as a 2,500-year-old gold helmet, were reported stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands. The artifacts, originating from the National History Museum in Bucharest, were part of a traveling exhibition in collaboration with other Romanian museums, showcasing a total of 673 items that would conclude on Sunday.
Expressing his dismay, Drents General Director Harry Tupan described the event as "a dark day for the Drents Museum in Assen and the National History Museum of Romania in Bucharest," emphasizing that this occurrence marked a first in the museum's 170-year history.
Local authorities suspect a group of individuals used explosives to break into the museum and steal the valuable artifacts. They are considering involving Interpol in the investigation to assist in recovering the stolen items.
Romania's outgoing President, Klaus Iohannis, revealed that Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, assured him that the Dutch authorities are actively pursuing the suspects and endeavoring to retrieve the stolen artifacts.
Over the years, certain ultranationalist groups in Romania have sought to claim ownership over Dacian themes, including those related to the stolen artifacts. Among the stolen pieces are the Cotofanesti golden helmet from around 450 BCE and three Dacian royal bracelets from 50 BCE.
Moreover, these Dacian bracelets have a history of being illegally obtained; some were stolen in the 1990s from Romanian Dacian fortress sites and then sold on the black market. To date, authorities have managed to recover only a limited number of them.