Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sirens are now sounding in Haifa, its suburbs, and the lower al-Jalil
Sirens are sounding in occupied Haifa
Israeli military command: Missiles launched from Iran have been identified
CNN: Trump directed members of his team to attempt a meeting with Iranian officials as quickly as possible
Iran’s official news agency IRNA: New barrage of missiles launched toward occupied territories
Pfeiffer: We will defend American interests
White House spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer: US forces in the Middle East remain in a defensive posture, and that has not changed
Israeli media: Many in the center did not receive warning of the missile attacks in advance
Sirens sounded in on the Israeli-occupied coast moments before Iranian missiles reached the area
US President Donald Trump requested that the National Security Council staff wait for him in the White House Situation Room

Dutch art detective recovers stolen Van Gogh painting

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 12 Sep 2023 19:29
4 Min Read

A Dutch investigator, dubbed "Indiana Jones of the art world," tracks lost artwork taken from a museum near Amsterdam during a Covid lockdown.

  • x
  • Dutch art detective recovers stolen Van Gogh painting
    Arthur Brand poses with Vincent van Gogh's The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring. (AFP)

According to authorities, a Dutch art detective has found a valuable Vincent van Gogh painting that was taken from a museum in a nighttime theft three and a half years ago during the coronavirus lockdown.

Arthur Brand received the lost artwork, The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring, created in 1884 and valued at €3m - €6m (£2.6m-£5.2m), tucked in a blue Ikea bag, at his Amsterdam home on Monday.

Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" for his efforts in locating a number of high-profile missing artworks, told AFP that establishing the painting was the stolen Van Gogh was "one of the greatest moments of my life."

He rose to prominence for his amazing recovery of stolen art, including the "Hitler's Horses" bronze sculptures, a Picasso picture, and an Oscar Wilde ring.

Read more: Oil protestors plead not guilty to sabotaging Van Gogh painting

Richard Bronswijk, of the Dutch police arts crime unit, confirmed that Arthur Brand "has solved this matter," detailing that the work of art was "definitely the real one, there's no doubt about it."

Painting delivered in blue Ikea bag

Brand told AFP that repeated requests from him and the Dutch police for the return of the stolen artwork were eventually answered when a guy, whose name was not revealed for his own protection, delivered Brand the painting in a blue Ikea bag.

The painting was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum near Amsterdam on March 30, 2020, in a crime that garnered international attention.

Related News

Over 100,000 people march for Gaza in front of the Hague

Dutch election set for October 29 amid government collapse

At the time, authorities apprehended a guy called Nils M in April 2021. He was eventually found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison. He was also convicted of stealing another Frans Hals masterwork, Two Laughing Boys, in a separate burglary.

“After a few months, I heard from a source in the criminal world who had bought the Van Gogh,” Brand explained.

The man was identified by Dutch media as Peter Roy K and was jailed in another case involving cocaine trafficking.

K allegedly wanted to use the work of art to negotiate his prison sentence.

The Van Gogh, on the other hand, remained a mystery until two weeks ago, when a guy called Brand expressed he wanted to return it. The man was unrelated to the theft, according to Brand, and he was persuaded to return the artwork.

“In an operation done in close coordination with the Dutch police, we got the painting back,” Brand remarked.

Stolen artwork from British Museum worth thousands sold on Ebay

According to The Telegraph, in late August, at least one stolen piece from the British Museum worth up to $63,800 was offered for sale on eBay for as low as $51.

Some of the stolen items have been posted on eBay since 2016, according to The Telegraph, and experts warned the British Museum three years ago that a staff member may be stealing items from its collection. 

According to Museum employees and experts in the recovery of stolen items, museum thefts are usually an inside job and are fairly common.

An anonymous employee at a famous London museum called the business "institutionally corrupt," adding that the snatching of some items is considered "Fair game."

According to the worker, "cherished items donated to the museum are sometimes secretly sold off or given to auction houses.

  • Van Gogh
  • Netherlands
  • Amsterdam

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
'Israel' launches major strike against Iran's nuclear program

'Israel' launches massive aggression on Iran

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Smoke rises from an oil storage facility after it appeared to have been struck by an Israeli strike on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah, regional media authorities condemn Israeli IRIB bombing

The trace of a projectile is seen before hitting Tel Aviv, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' bans foreign journalists from covering Haifa oil refinery

In this Dec. 23, 2019 file photo released by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit near Arak, Iran (AEOI)
Politics

Iran signals no new concessions in nuclear talks with US, WSJ reports

An IRIB correspondent reporting live after the broadcaster's headquarters were struck by Israeli airstrikes, Tehran, June 16, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Following blatant threats, 'Israel' bombs Iran's state broadcaster

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS