The three perpetrators of last year's spectacular art theft from a Dutch museum were on Friday sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
The court in Assen in the northern Netherlands province of Drenthe found the men guilty of jointly planning and executing the nighttime raid in "in a sophisticated and professional manner" and handed down 47-month sentences.
In January 2025, the men blew up the entrance to the cultural history museum in Assen before stealing Romanian cultural treasures from the special exhibition "Dacia – the Kingdom of Gold and Silver."
Their haul included three gold bracelets and a gold helmet more than 2,500 years old.
The suspects, aged between 21 and 36, were arrested within a few days. However, it was not until early April that most of the stolen treasures were handed over to the authorities. One gold bracelet remains missing.
Two of the men had previously struck a deal with the prosecution whereby they would return the items in return for a reduced sentence. However, all three received the same sentence.
In the court's view, it could not be said with certainty what role each of them played in the return of the items.
The crime caused great shock, particularly in Romania. The gold helmet, made of almost pure gold, is regarded as a relic of inestimable value and a symbol of Romania's history.
