President Nicușor Dan reacted after the recovery of the Helmet from Coțofenești and the Dacian bracelets, emphasizing the importance of protecting the national heritage and congratulating the authorities involved in the investigation.
In a public message, the head of state expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the case and highlighted the international collaboration that made it possible to recover the artifacts. “I am glad that the Dacian bracelets and The helmet from Coțofenești was recovered and I congratulate the Romanian and Dutch prosecutors who were part of the joint investigation team. I also appreciate the support of the European Union Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Justice (Eurojust)”he transmitted.
The president drew attention that such incidents must lead to stricter measures in the management of heritage objects. “The Romanian authorities have the responsibility to assume, in the future, a much more careful management of objects of exceptional historical and cultural importance for the Romanian heritage, through stricter and correctly applied rules”emphasized Nicușor Dan.
In the same message, he insisted on the symbolic value of the national treasure, considering that its protection goes beyond the cultural sphere. “The national treasure is part of our historical identity, and keeping it safe means more than a simple act of culture: it means protecting symbols that define us, have a strong impact on the whole society and represent the heritage of future generations”.
Recovery context
The helmet and two Dacian bracelets were recovered and are currently in the possession of Dutch investigators, to be presented to the public in the near future. According to the authorities, the helmet shows slight damage. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Țărnea, confirmed that the Romanian side was officially informed about the developments in the case.
The pieces, which belong to the National History Museum of Romania, were stolen on the night of January 24 to 25, 2025 from the Drents Museum. The robbery lasted only a few minutes, during which the thieves managed to steal some of the most valuable objects, valued at approximately 5.8 million euros.
Less than a week after the theft, three suspects were arrested in the Dutch town of Heerhugowaard. A woman initially detained was later released but remains a suspect, while a fifth person is still being sought by authorities.
