Two Van Gogh paintings stolen

BBC News ^ | December 7, 2002 | BBC News

[MadIvan]

Burglars have stolen two paintings by Vincent Van Gogh from Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, Dutch police say.

The thieves got in through the roof early on Saturday, police spokesman Remco Gerretsen told BBC News Online.

The stolen paintings are well known to art lovers: View of the Sea at Scheveningen and Leaving the Church at Nuenen. Police have not yet put a value on them.

The paintings are among Van Gogh's later works - executed in 1882 and 1885 respectively - and such works usually sell for millions of dollars.

The museum, in the heart of Amsterdam, contains the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings. It holds more than 200 paintings and 500 drawings by the Dutch post-Impressionist.

Museum closed

The theft was discovered at 0800 (0600 GMT) - two hours before opening time - and police have now cordoned off the museum.

It is the second major theft in the Netherlands in a week. On Monday, thieves raided a diamond exhibition at the Museon in The Hague, making off with gems worth about $5m.

Investigators are baffled by the Van Gogh theft, as guards patrol the premises at night and there is tight security inside, including infra-red systems and cameras.

Police found a broken window one storey above street level and a 4.5-metre (15-foot) ladder leaning against the rear of the building, the Associated Press reported. Broken glass and a large cloth that may have been used in the burglary were taken away for inspection.

Mr Gerretsen said that so far investigators had found nothing wrong with the museum's security systems.

Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands in 1853 and died in France in 1890.

[MadIvan]

I happen to love Van Gogh's works and impressionism, so this is particularly sad for me.

Of course I'm not the only Van Gogh lover out there:

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[MadIvan]

Het is een slechte dag in Amsterdam, mijn vriend.

Groetjes,

Ivan

[mhking]

"Are you in or out?"

[Miss Marple]

My daughter was in the Van Gogh museum this summer. She will be sorry to hear of this, as am I.

[crystalk]

Were the thieves Muslims?

If not, they may have been doing the world a favor. All the treasured art, the cathedrals and paintings, are all going to be destroyed as hateful to Islam and incompatible with Sharia.

The fate of Europe and its relics of once great glory, will suffer what the Buddhas in Afghanistan did.

[Unknown Freeper]

If the security was so tight and they had the infrared beams and everything, wouldn't this likely be an inside job?

Meanwhile, over at eBay...

[MadIvan]

I used to live in Amsterdam; the Dutch are justifiably proud of their native son.

Still, the thieves will be caught - it's not like gold or jewels which can be easily sold on the black market - a Van Gogh is fairly unique.

Regards, Ivan

[SkyPilot]

Ivan,

I was at that museam a few months ago in Amsterdam, but I am not as familiar with the city as you are. Is this the same one by the park that has an ice skating rink nearby and that beautiful walking tunnel outside?

[MadIvan]

It's right next to the Rijksmuseum and Museumplein. I don't remember if they ever put a skating rink on Museumplein.

Regards, Ivan

[albee]

"...Mr Gerretsen said that so far investigators had found nothing wrong with the museum's security systems..."

Man oh man! Talk about being in denial....!

[SamAdams76]

I don't understand stealing art. I mean, there can only be one original painting, right? So when these stolen paintings are put on the market, everybody will know they are stolen and that the seller is probably either the thief or somebody who knows the thief.

[FReepaholic]

>>...Mr Gerretsen said that so far investigators had found nothing wrong with the museum's security systems...<<

Mr. Gerretsen obviously hasn't learned anything from the Clintons.

His statement should have been: "...nothing is wrong with the security systems WE HAVE IN PLACE..."

[MadIvan]

Remember the Sherlock Holmes story in which the Mona Lisa was stolen? The original was stolen to make profits from selling copies to unsuspecting buyers.

That's the only way I see it working.

Regards, Ivan

[SkyPilot]

It's right next to the Rijksmuseum and Museumplein

OK-that's it. Thanks.

I thought the place was great--but I could have done without the "Sunflowers Mousepads" for 35 Euro.

_{OK--I confess....I have one.....}

[knighthawk]

This is from a parody of a famous Dutch song:

Ja, de dieven op de Dam, trallalala, trallalala
Jatten alles wat maar kan, trallala, trallalalie

(Yes, the thieves at the Dam - steal everything they can).

This week something shocking happened, which says enough about the Dutch situation.

In Eindhoven a armoured money-transport company saw two guys observing the truck and the route. They shadowed them and found out the were criminals who did attempted to rob an armoured truck before.

The company gathered evidence and contacted the police. Their reaction? They said they didn't have the time to arrest them, and actualy phoned the two guys to inform them better not to do it because they knew they what they were up to!

The Netherlands are way too far gone, I am afraid.

Hou je taai daar in Engeland.

[albee]

"...I don't understand stealing art. I mean, there can only be one original painting, right?"

It must be blackmail. Threaten to destroy an irreplaceable work of art and Art Lovers everywhere will kick in dollars to get it back.

[MadIvan]

I thought the place was great--but I could have done without the "Sunflowers Mousepads" for 35 Euro.

I liked the one they have Van Gogh's self portrait. Kind of odd to be running a mouse over his face however.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

The Netherlands are way too far gone, I am afraid.

A nation that can vote for Professor Pim is not too far gone. Be of good cheer and remember boven alles, Nederland.

Regards, Ivan

[dinodino]

Nope, there's always a well-heeled collector somewhere who is willing to add the stolen work to his collection. I recall hearing of stolen works being sold to private Japanese collectors, for example.