In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, in which the world’s cultural establishments are closed, a group of thieves broke into the Singer Laren museum, just outside the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, and took a painting of Vincent van Gogh. The robbery occurred on Van Gogh’s birthday.
During the early hours of yesterday, the painting ‘The Parsonage Garden’ at Nuenen in spring’ was stolen from the museum and it was not a part of its collection, it was a loan from the Groninger Museum. Police reported that the thieves had broken the glass doors of the building’s entrance around 03:15 a.m. The painting is valued between one and six million euros.
“I am shocked and incredibly angry. It is very bad for the Groninger Museum. It is also very bad for Singer, ”said museum director Jan Rudolph de Lorm during a conference yesterday afternoon.
“But, above all, it is horrible for all of us, because art is there to be seen and shared by all of us, for society in general, to provide enjoyment, to inspire and also to provide comfort. Especially in this difficult time, “he added.
Photo: Groninger Museum