Less than two weeks after a failed break-in attempt, the Princessehof Ceramics Museum in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, was hit by burglars who made off with 11 rare Chinese ceramics. The museum is closed to the public as authorities investigate the heist, which took place in the early hours of Monday morning. The burglars entered through the roof and targeted the first floor, where the ceramics were installed as part of an exhibition called “Party!”. Seven of the stolen ceramics were found outside the museum, broken, while four remain missing.
According to a museum spokesperson, the perpetrators seemed to have specific knowledge and to have acted in a targeted manner. The value of the stolen ceramics has not been disclosed, but the spokesperson said that the market for such objects is small, suggesting that the burglars may have had a different motive than selling them.
The Princessehof, housed in an 18th-century castle where MC Escher was born, is the only national museum in Northern Netherlands. It has a world-class collection of Asian, European, and modern ceramics, including the largest collection of Chinese porcelain in the country. The “Party!” exhibition examines how and why different cultures celebrate in the Netherlands. Police have launched a forensic investigation and are appealing for potential witnesses to come forward with any information.
