Thieves stole the entire silver collection of the Doesburg Silver Museum in the eastern Dutch city of Doesburg in the early hours of Wednesday morning. More than 300 "irreplaceable" objects, including a treasured collection of mustard pots assembled by the museum's founder Martin de Kleijn, were taken after two men forced entry into the 13th-century Martini Church housing the museum. CCTV footage shows the duo using a crowbar to break in and shatter display cabinets. Only ceramics on temporary display were left behind. The museum is insured, but chairman Ernst Boesveld emphasized the loss is about history and cultural heritage, not just the silver price.
This heist matters because it reflects a broader wave of metal-related thefts in the Netherlands driven by rising precious metal prices. Last January, the Drents Museum in Assen lost over €4 million in golden treasures linked to the ancient Dacians. The stolen collection spans 1700 to 1920 and was used by Europe's wealthiest elites, with unique pieces like a mustard pot and spoon by silversmith Marcel Blok bearing the arms of Doesburg, a city historically tied to mustard production. The theft highlights the vulnerability of regional museums and the risk that priceless cultural heritage may be melted down for raw metal value.