Priceless national treasures recovered months after dramatic museum heist

• A 2,500-year-old gold Coțofenești helmet and two associated gold bracelets, stolen from a Dutch museum, have been recovered by authorities.
• The ancient Dacian artefacts, on loan from Romania's national history museum, were taken in a violent break-in in January 2025 during an exhibition at the Drents Museum.
• The recovery followed negotiations involving lawyers representing three suspects, two men in their mid-30s and a 21-year-old, who are due to stand trial later in April.
• Dutch and Romanian prosecutors expressed relief at the return of the treasures, which are considered central to Romania's national heritage, though one bracelet remains missing.
• The theft raised concerns about museum security and diplomatic relations, leading to the former head of Romania's national history museum losing his position.

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2,500-year-old Romanian golden helmet stolen in dramatic museum heist recovered