Dutch Silver Museum struggles to reopen after January heist

A small Dutch museum is struggling to reopen months after thieves stole nearly its entire collection in a January break-in, leaving empty display cases and forcing organizers to rebuild from scratch.

The Doesburg Silver Museum is housed inside the Martinikerk, a historic church in the Dutch city of Doesburg. Thieves broke in on January 21, smashing glass and taking hundreds of silver objects with a total value estimated in the tens of thousands of euros.

“The Doesburg Silver Museum is empty. The devastation is enormous. The defeat is great,” the museum posted on social media the day after the theft.

The museum remains closed after the theft and has not set a reopening date, Dutch newspaper NRC reported. No arrests have been made, and none of the stolen objects have been recovered.

The theft effectively erased decades of collecting by curator Martin de Kleijn, 85, who owned much of the collection.

“I realize that I actually derived a great deal of enjoyment from collecting silver over the years,” de Kleijn recently told regional newspaper De Gelderlander. He said he plans to resume collecting.

In the months since the theft, museum officials have launched a crowdfunding campaign and begun seeking replacement works. Donations on a GoFundMe campaign have reached €6,247 with additional contributions still coming in.

Former Doesburg mayor Loes van der Meijs also urged residents to donate and raised €2,080, De Gelderlander reported.

Museum officials say they are prioritizing objects with strong historical or local connections and are exploring commissioning a new signature piece to replace a distinctive stolen mustard pot.

Despite the fundraising progress, reopening remains uncertain. Church officials raised concerns about whether the site can safely house valuable objects.

An external firm is now reviewing security measures for both the church and museum, including responsibility for upgrades and insurance coverage, NRC reported.

Museum leaders said they hope to remain in the church but are considering alternatives, including temporary exhibitions at other institutions.

They are also planning a May symposium on “Nobility and Silver,” according to regional broadcaster Omroep Gelderland. Proceeds will go toward rebuilding the collection.

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