Dutch Authorities Arrest Three Suspects in Theft of Priceless Ancient Golden Helmet
Dutch authorities arrested three suspects on Wednesday in connection with the theft of a priceless ancient golden helmet from a small museum in the Netherlands. The helmet, which dates back 2,500 years and is considered a cultural icon of Romania, was stolen along with three golden wristbands. There was no sign that the items had been recovered.
The theft sent shockwaves through the art world and devastated Romanian authorities, who had loaned the items to the museum in the Netherlands. The Drents Museum, where the items were on display, has come under criticism for not applying sufficient security.
The Cotofenesti helmet is one of Romania’s most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization. It was on display on the final weekend of a six-month stint when it was stolen. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis called the artifacts “exceptional cultural and historical importance” for Romanian heritage and identity, and that their disappearance had “a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society.”
The director of Romania’s National History Museum, Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu, described the heist as “even in our most pessimistic dreams, we would not have believed possible.” The helmet’s fame and dramatic studded appearance make it unlikely that it could be easily sold, raising fears that the thieves were after the gold itself. However, melting the gold would reduce the treasure’s cultural and historical value.
The suspects are being interrogated, and more arrests are not excluded. The recovery of the items without damage would be a significant next step, not only for the museum but also for the Romanian population.