Police in Leeuwarden said that they are seeking tips on the theft of 11 valuable items from Princessehof Ceramics Museum this morning. The stolen pieces appear to include ancient Chinese pottery but no specific details of the missing items have been revealed yet. The theft is said to have taken place at around 5am, with someone or someones breaking into the museum and making off with the art.
Vanochtend vroeg is er ingebroken in een museum aan de Grote Kerkstraat in #Leeuwarden. We doen onderzoek naar deze inbraak en zijn op zoek naar getuigen en camerabeelden uit de omgeving van de Grote Kerkstraat: https://t.co/ke634r7aZc
— Politie Fryslân (@POL_Fryslan) February 13, 2023
Police responded as soon as they received an automated report. During a search of the surrounding area, cops found some items from the museum, but four stolen pieces are still missing. “We are still investigating which items have been stolen and who their owners are. The Princessehof has quite a few lenders, the most significant ones being the Ottema Kingmastichting and the municipality of Leeuwarden,” says Kris Callens, the director of the Fries Museum.
One of the most high-value pieces showcased by the museum, an 11th century Chinese Ru ware bowl, is in “complete safety,” Callens emphasizes.
The Princessehof Ceramics Museum houses some of the country’s most valuable ceramic art pieces. These include ancient Chinese vases, as well as priceless modern ceramic art.
