Romanian helmet, artifacts stolen in Dutch museum heist

The thief stole the helmet and three golden wristbands, which were of immeasurable cultural significance.

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A daring art heist has stunned Europe after thieves used explosives to break into a museum and steal a priceless cultural artifact.

The item, an ancient golden helmet, is one of Romania’s most revered national treasures, and its theft has sent shockwaves through both the art world and Romanian society.

The Cotofenesti helmet, which dates back around 2,500 years to the Dacia civilization, was on display at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands.

It was part of a temporary exhibition marking the final weekend of a six-month stint when the thieves struck. Along with the helmet, three golden wristbands were also stolen.

The stolen artifacts are of immeasurable cultural significance. To Romania, they are treasured symbols of national heritage, while for the Netherlands, the theft represents a breach of the country's renowned museum security.

“This is a pitch dark day for us,” said Harry Tupan, director of the Drents Museum, devastated by the loss. “Security was, as far as we know, totally as it should be.”

Investigators have uncovered few clues so far, with a burnt-out car found near the museum, suggesting the thieves were trying to cover their tracks.

Grainy security footage shows three individuals using a crowbar to open the museum door before an explosion is heard, after which the perpetrators likely fled with the stolen items in mere minutes. Dutch police confirmed reports of the explosion at around 3:45 a.m. local time.

The Cotofenesti helmet, with its intricate design and dramatic studded appearance, is easily recognizable and unlikely to be sold easily. Experts believe the thieves may have targeted the valuable gold content rather than attempting to sell the artifact intact.

“It is simply unsellable. The whole world knows it,” said Dutch art expert Arthur Brand. “So, they likely went for the gold… to melt it down.”

The helmet’s estimated weight, combined with the current price of gold, means the thieves could have gained a fraction of the artifact's true value if they destroyed it for its precious metal.

The gold alone would be worth approximately 85,000 euros ($89,000) per kilo, but the helmet’s cultural and historical significance far exceeds its raw material value.

Romanian officials are reeling from the loss. “The artifacts have exceptional cultural and historical importance,” Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said, calling the theft a blow to Romanian heritage. “Their disappearance has a strong emotional and symbolic impact on society.”

Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu, director of Romania’s National History Museum, described the heist as a shocking turn of events. “Even in our most pessimistic dreams, we would not have believed this was possible,” he said.

Romanian Justice Minister Radu Marinescu called the theft a “crime against our state” and stressed that recovering the artifacts is an “absolute priority.”

As the investigation continues, museum officials and authorities await further developments. “It’s a small battlefield now,” Tupan said. “There is nothing else for us to do but wait and see what will happen.