site.btaRomania Demands Compensation for Gold Treasure Stolen in the Netherlands

Romania has decided to demand compensation for the four items from the country's national treasure stolen at the beginning of the year from the Drents Museum in the Dutch city of Assen, reports Digi24. The sum amounts to EUR 5.7 million and will be paid by the insurance company. The National History Museum of Romania has been officially notified of the initiation of the procedure.

Romanian authorities decided to ask for compensation as six months after the theft the treasure has still not been found. Even if the objects were found later, Romania could keep part of the amount for possible restoration work in case the exhibits were damaged. The rest of the money should be returned if the artefacts are found.

Against this backdrop, the investigation is continuing and next week the three suspected of carrying out the robbery will be brought back to court. Magistrates will decide whether to extend their pre-trial detention.

A golden helmet from Cotofeneshti (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. 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.

The Prime Minister's Control Corps, which carried out checks at the Ministry of Culture, said the Dacian gold artefacts that were stolen in the Netherlands were exported from Romania without complying with the relevant legal requirements. According to them, cultural heritage objects can be borrowed, but the organization of the shipment must be approved by a government decision.