Balgarianovinite.com The former General Director of the National History Museum of Romania, Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu, made new accusations regarding the theft of Dacian gold artefacts from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands, in January last year. He said that the Dutch side “lied” about the security measures at the museum.
“They lied,” Oberlander told RTL in an interview, news channel Digi24 reported on Wednesday. “They did not comply with the agreement in the report regarding the display case. Security was crucial, but the promised anti-burglary glass was not used, and the helmet was stolen after just two hammer blows,” he said.
Oberlander explained that the decision to loan the artifacts to the Drents Museum came from a positive feeling toward the Netherlands. “I love the Dutch people and wanted to share Romania’s heritage with the world. The exhibition preparations were meticulous, and the museum seemed the best-protected of all the museums I had previously loaned items to,” he added.
Despite advanced alarm systems, the thieves managed to enter through a small opening, revealing unforeseen security flaws in the official plan.
After the theft, three main suspects were arrested, but the Cotofenesti Helmet and three gold bracelets remain missing. Dutch businessman Alex van Breemen offered a reward of EUR 250,000 for information leading to their recovery.
The Drents Museum has not made statements regarding the quality of the glass used in the display cases, saying only that it complied with insurance requirements and shared all necessary information with its Romanian colleagues.
In September last year, the National History Museum of Romania received EUR 5.7 million compensation for the four items from the country’s national treasure stolen at the Drents Museum. The sum was fully paid by a Dutch insurance company after a court procedure.
Even if the objects are found later and returned to the museum, Romania could keep part of the amount for possible restoration work in case the exhibits are damaged. The rest of the money should be returned if the artefacts are found.
The compensation procedure is separate from the criminal investigation, which is still ongoing. The latter aims to establish the responsibility of those involved in the theft of the treasure.
A golden helmet from Cotofenesti (5th-4th centuries BC) and three golden Dacian bracelets from Sarmizegetusa Regia (second part of the 1st century BC) were stolen from the Drents Museum in Assen on January 25, 2025. The exhibits were part of the exhibition of gold and silver items from the ancient kingdom of Dacia, organized in cooperation with the National History Museum of Romania. Following the theft, the Romanian Minister of Culture, Natalia-Elena Intotero, fired the museum’s director, Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu. Former Director of National History Museum of Romania Claims Dutch Museum Lied on Security Measures 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-07 19:08:57 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
