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art stolen

Dutch art stolen from museum in 2005 traced to Ukraine

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Matthias Withoos (Dutch, 1626-1703), ‘De Grashaven,’ stolen from the Westfries Museum in 2005. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Matthias Withoos (Dutch, 1626-1703), ‘De Grashaven,’ stolen from the Westfries Museum in 2005. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

 

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – A trove of Dutch Golden Age art stolen from a provincial Dutch museum nearly 11 years ago has been linked to a volunteer militia in Ukraine.

The Westfries Museum in the northern town of Hoorn went public Monday with claims that the 24 paintings and 70 pieces of silverware snatched in a burglary on Jan. 9, 2005, are now being offered for sale in Ukraine, saying it wants to deter potential buyers.

The museum also has an important message for the militia, which it claims is seeking a 5 million-euro ($5.4 million) “finder’s fee” for the art: It is nowhere near as valuable as you think.

In a statement, the museum alleges that the case involves “Ukrainian art criminals who have contacts on the highest political levels” in the country.

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AP-WF-12-07-15 1417GMT

art stolen