Romanian treasures stolen from Drents Museum Assen

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That night, explosives were used to force open a door, enabling several suspects to enter the museum. In no time at all, they managed to steal a number of treasures from Romania, namely the golden helmet of Cotofenesti and three bracelets. A large-scale investigation has been launched to retrieve the stolen pieces and catch the people who stole them.

Updates

Update of April 15, 2025: Another suspect arrested

The police have arrested a fifth suspect in the investigation into the theft from the Drents Museum in Assen. The 36-year-old man was arrested in a residence in Alkmaar. The stolen golden treasures have not yet been found. After the arrest, the police conducted a search in the house in Alkmaar. Data carriers that were found, have been impounded and will be investigated further.

Update of February 20, 2025: Fourth suspect arrested

The police have arrested a 26-year-old man from Heerhugowaard in Obdam. He is suspected to have been involved in the theft of archaeological artifacts from the Drents Museum in Assen on Saturday 25 January. The police had already arrested three other suspects, all of whom are still in custody. The stolen Romanian treasures have not been found yet. The suspect that was arrested today, is not the person who was seen in a hardware store in Assen, and of who the police previously released video footage. The police are still looking for that person and information that might lead to them.

Update of 30 January 2025 - 09:30 p.m.

We are looking for more information about two arrested suspects, whose photographs and names we have published. See this news report in Dutch and/or this video for more information. The suspects in question are:

• Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt from Heerhugowaard (NL)
• Bernhard Zeeman from Heerhugowaard (NL)

These men are suspected of involvement in the burglary and are presently in custody. The police would like to receive more information about them and have the following questions:

1. Who has any information about the possible whereabouts of the treasures?
2. Who knows where these men were after the burglary on 25 January?
3. Who saw these men after the burglary?
4. Do you know with whom these suspects had contact after the burglary?
5. Who has information about the black Ford Transit with licence plate number V-586-KR?
6. Have you found similar clothing or a bag in the days after the art theft?
7. Do you known who may have purchased these goods or worn these clothes shortly before the burglary?

To pass on TIP OFFS, please use the tip-off form below or send an email to tips-assen@politie.nl

Update 29th of January 2025, evening

Three people were arrested in Heerhugowaard on January 29 for their possible involvement in the burglary and theft from the Drents Museum last Saturday, January 25. The Romanian archaeological gold masterpieces from the Drents Museum have not been found yet. The suspects are in full restraint and are being questioned about their role in the theft. Multiple arrests cannot be ruled out. We are still looking for the suspect who was seen in the hardware store in Assen. Searches have also taken place in homes in Heerhugowaard. The stolen masterpieces have not yet been found. Do you know where the masterpieces are? Or do you have other important information? Then let us know!

Update 29 January 2025, afternoon

The police are looking for this man. He may be connected with the burglary of the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands. On Thursday 23 January at 01:14 p.m., a few days before this burglary, he was seen in a DIY store in Assen. Please contact us if you are this man. Also inform us if you recognize this man or have other tips or information about this suspect.

​​​Images and witnesses

The suspects used several vehicles, including a grey Volkswagen Golf with licence plate number K-813-BK or P-343-RL. This car was stolen in Alkmaar and found burned out in Rolde. Licence plate number K-813-BK was stolen in Witmarsum.

We want to find out the exact locations where the suspects have been. On 23 January, the car was seen in Groningen and it didn’t return to Assen until 25 January. We would like to know where the suspects were in the meantime. Therefore, we would like to receive any camera footage for the locations and times below, which may show the suspects or the vehicles used. We are also looking for witnesses who may have seen this Golf or other suspect persons or vehicles.

Please contact us if you saw something, or share your images directly via the tip-off form below.

1. Surroundings of Ingelandstraat, Alkmaar (theft of Volkswagen Golf)
   All images from 22 January 08:30 p.m. to 23 January 03:30 a.m.
   
2. Surroundings of Van Aylvaweg, Witmarsum (theft of number plates)
   All images from 22 January 06:00 p.m. to 23 January 03:30 a.m.
   
3. Surroundings of Julianaplein, Groningen (Stolen car seen around 04:20 a.m.)
   All images taken on 23 January from 03:45 to 05:00 a.m.
   
4. Surroundings Drents Museum (explosion and burglary)
   All images taken on 25 January from 03:00 to 04:00 a.m.
   
5. Surroundings N33 / Grolloërstraat, Rolde (burning of stolen Golf and possibly the escape)
   All images taken on 25 January from 03:30 to 04:15 a.m.
   
6. Surroundings of and the area between Groningen and Assen (Trying to find the location of a car)
   Images of a grey Volkswagen Golf with licence plate numbers K-813-BK or P-343-RL.
   From 23 January 04:20 a.m. to 25 January 03:50 a.m.

Images of the suspects and a potential link with the province of North-Holland

The explosion damaged the museum building. There are images showing the suspects forcing a door and the subsequent explosion. This is how the suspects entered the museum. Unfortunately, no arrests have yet been made. If you have any information about the suspects that can be seen in the images, please pass it on as soon as possible. A number of leads have come to the fore in the police investigation that suggest that several of the suspects come from the province of North-Holland. Some of the findings were shared in Opsporing Verzocht, the Dutch equivalent of the Crimestoppers TV programme, on Tuesday 28 January.

Ford Transit and tools

The investigation team also calls attention to a dark Ford Transit, which may have been involved in the robbery. The police would also like to know more about hammers, a sledgehammer, and a crowbar that were used to burgle the museum. The suspects may have dumped suspect goods after the burglary that were used during the burglary, such as clothes or other items.

Investigation in full flow

A team of dozens of investigators and specialists is working on the case to track down the stolen goods and arrest the suspects. An extensive technical and tactical investigation has been conducted in and around the Drents Museum. Investigation has also been conducted at other locations, such as Alkmaar, Witmarsum, Groningen, Assen, and Rolde, and camera footage has been retrieved and examined. In addition, the investigation team decided to call in Interpol, an international organization that helps police organizations prevent and fight crime.

Assistance of local residents

It is possible that suspect persons or vehicles may have been seen by people living in the vicinity of the museum in Assen or people living at or near the burning car under the overpass of the N33 at Grolloërstraat near Rolde and along the possible route between the locations. Or someone may have footage from a doorbell camera or dashcam that shows something between 03:00a.m. and 04:30 a.m. that 25^th January. This may be vital information for the investigation into the explosion and the burglary.

Please contact us if you have any tips

Please let us know if you have any information about the explosion and the burglary, or if you know who the suspects could be. Also contact us if you saw people acting suspiciously in the Drents Museum, for instance lingering for a long time near the treasures. Contact us too if you have any information about the suspect car or other suspect vehicles, or if you know anything about the stolen treasures, which may be offered for sale in criminal circles.

Please contact us:

• From the Netherlands, please call the police tip-off line at: 0800-6070 (free of charge)
• From other countries, call the police tip-offline at: +31 - 79 345 98 00
• Send an email to: tips-assen@politie.nl
• Use the tip-off form
• Call or share your information via Meld Misdaad Anoniem (Crime Stoppers Anonymous)
• Call the Criminal Intelligence Team at: +31 - 88 661 77 34
  Subject to specific conditions, the Criminal Intelligence Team can shield the identity of its sources. It can also ensure that the information is passed on anonymously to the investigators and that your personal details are shielded from the suspects.