Cluj-Napoca, January 25, 2025: The National Museum of Transylvanian History (MNIT) expresses its deep regret over the serious incident that occurred at the Drents Museum in Assen (Netherlands), where, on the morning of January 25, 2025, part of the Dacian treasure exhibited within the exhibition "Dacia! The Kingdom of Gold and Silver" was stolen. We express our solidarity with our colleagues in the Netherlands and Romania who are making efforts to recover these priceless pieces of heritage.
The National Museum of Transylvania's History (MNIT) participated in this international exhibition, organized by the National Museum of History of Romania, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, and hosted by the Drents Museum from July 2024 to January 2025. 24 exceptional pieces were loaned from our collections, including:
- Two gold diadems from the Sărmășag hoard, from the late Bronze Age.
- Gold bracelet and necklace elements, from the Boarta hoard, Hallstatt.
- Three silver fibulae from the Cojocna hoard, La Tène, and a torques, discovered at Sânger, from the La Tène period.
- Goldsmith tools and patterns from the jewelry processing workshop at Pecica, from the La Tène period.
- Gold engagement ring, discovered in Criștești, from the Roman period.
According to current information, the pieces borrowed from the MNIT collection are not among those stolen in the robbery.
For this project, MNIT collaborated closely with the National Museum of History of Romania, respecting all international security standards. The protection systems in the Drents Museum were assessed as adequate, and the pieces benefited from a “wall-to-wall” insurance policy, covering risks such as transport, theft and destruction.
MNIT stands with its partners in the Netherlands and Romania in efforts to recover stolen cultural goods and continues to collaborate with the authorities and international organizations involved.
Marcu Felix, MNIT Manager
Sânger, Mureș County, La Tène
1st century BC
