A 2,500-year-old golden helmet and two golden bracelets, stolen by an armed gang last year from the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, have been recovered. These artifacts date back to the Dacian era (around 450 BC) and were on loan from Romania's National History Museum. Following the theft, they are now displayed in the museum behind a glass case, guarded by armed police, though a third bracelet remains missing.

The theft sparked outrage in Romania and raised concerns about security for priceless artifacts loaned to other countries. Romanian prosecutor Daniela Buruiană stated, "It's a long-awaited result." The Dutch government reportedly paid €5.7 million in insurance compensation after the heist, but Romanian officials declined to discuss the allocation of these funds.

Drents Museum director Robert van Langh noted that the helmet was slightly dented but could be restored, while the bracelets remained in perfect condition. Romanian prosecutor Rareș-Petru Stan spoke of the "major impact" the theft had in his homeland and praised Dutch colleagues for their "hard work and keeping the faith." The investigation continues to locate the final bracelet.

Dutch public prosecutor Corien Fahner revealed that the helmet and bracelets were handed over to authorities on Wednesday following negotiations involving lawyers for the three suspects. Two men in their mid-30s and one aged 21 will face trial later this month. The suspects were arrested within days of the gang using explosives to break into the museum, but by then, the priceless items had vanished.

Art experts have suggested that the helmet and bracelets were stolen to order by a criminal gang. Several Dutch provincial museums have been targeted in recent years due to challenges in providing adequate security for invaluable artifacts. In 2024, two works by Andy Warhol were stolen from a gallery in the southern Netherlands, and six years ago, a Frans Hals painting titled "Two Laughing Boys" was taken from a small museum in Leerdam.

The former head of the National History Museum in Bucharest, Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, faced significant domestic criticism for loaning the gold objects abroad and was dismissed within days of the theft. He expressed relief at the helmet's recovery, calling it "a unique item in European and even global cultural heritage."

Source: www.bbc.com