On the morning of August 15, two armed robbers raided the Zaans museum in Zaandam (Netherlands) with the intention of stealing Monet's painting The Voorzaan and the Westerhem.
Despite the robbers' threats with guns, museum staff and other people present successfully prevented the robbery, preserving the million-dollar artwork. The two robbers escaped by motorbike after the failed heist.
Authorities are currently examining the artwork to see if it was damaged in the robbery.
Zaans Museum where the robbery took place on the morning of August 15 (photo: De Zaanse Chans).
Speaking to CNN, museum director Marieke Verweij said: "Fortunately, no one was injured or any artwork was stolen in the recent robbery. However, the incident left many staff members in shock."
The museum was temporarily closed on August 16 and reopened to visitors on August 17. However, The Voorzaan and the Westerhem was not displayed in the exhibition "Monet in Zanndam".
“We are re-appraising the work so it cannot be exhibited at the moment,” Verweij said.
The Voorzaan and the Westerhem painting at the Zaans museum (photo: Valerie Kuypers/AFP/Getty Images).
The painting The Voorzaan and the Westerhem was acquired by the museum in 2015 for about 1.36 million USD (about 32 billion VND).
The painting depicts boats drifting on the Zaan River. It was created during a visit to Zaandam in 1871. Monet sketched the scene from the window of the hotel where he was staying with his wife and four-month-old son. It is one of 25 works Monet drew inspired by his visit to Zaandam.
In a letter to his colleague Camille Pissarro, Monet said that he could paint all his life in Zaandam because of the unique scenery of colorful houses, windmills and romantic boats.
