“Mystery of the Stolen Statues: Investigating the 1978 Art Theft in Hakendover”

A cold, foggy night in November 1978. In Hakendover, Flemish Brabant, near Tienen, a local resident who has woken up early sees an unknown white Mercedes standing outside the church. Later that morning, a shock wave ripples through the small village: 22 statues of the priceless Virgin Mary Retable — the basis for the famous Horse Procession — have disappeared. Almost half a century later, the art theft has still not been cleared up. And so our reporter went to investigate himself. It resulted in a surprising discovery at the antique dealer who was once accused of the theft.