Demand 8 years in prison for theft of works by Van Gogh and Frans Hals | Inland

Reporter Mick van Wely is present at the trial. Follow the case via his tweets at the bottom of this article (from approximately 10 a.m.)

Justice considers M., also prosecuted for possession of firearms and hard drugs, as the man who broke into the Singer Museum in Laren at the end of March 2020 and took away the painting ‘Spring garden, the rectory garden in Nuenen in the spring’ by Vincent van Gogh. At the end of August last year, he is also said to have stolen the canvas ‘Two laughing boys’ by Frans Hals from the Hofje van Mrs van Aerden museum in Leerdam.

The works of art, according to the Public Prosecution Service cultural heritage and “invaluable”, are still without trace. The prosecutor said there is a good chance that they ended up in the underworld. According to her, it is ‘real’ to assume that the paintings will never be found.

M., who has a lengthy criminal record and says he is a car dealer, denied earlier in the day that he was involved in the painting robberies. “I have nothing to do with it,” he said. “I don’t know who did it and I don’t know where they are now.” The works represent a million dollar value. Van Gogh’s painting was insured for 2.5 million euros, that of Hals for more than 8.7 million euros. According to the museum, the real value is even 16 million euros and the work was underinsured.

DNA material of M was found at the museums after the art theft. It was on the list of Van Gogh’s work, which was found in pieces outside the museum. In the second burglary, it was found on a strap that had been thrown over a wall from a flagpole outside the museum. “All traces lead to this suspect,” said the public prosecutor.

M.’s lawyer asked for acquittal. According to her, it cannot be established unequivocally that the DNA material originates from her client. She also emphasized that no further traces point to her client. M. himself called the sentence “ridiculous.”

The court will rule on September 24.

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