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On the morning of August 15th, two armed robbers broke into the Zaans Museum in Zaandam (Netherlands) with the intention of stealing Monet's painting *The Voorzaan and the Westerhem*.
Despite the thieves using guns to threaten them, museum staff and those present successfully thwarted the robbery, protecting the million-dollar artwork. The two robbers escaped on a motorcycle after their failed attempt.
Authorities are currently inspecting the artwork to determine if it was damaged in the robbery.
The 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: “Thankfully, no one was injured and no artwork was stolen in the robbery. Nevertheless, the incident has left many staff members shaken.”
The museum was temporarily closed on August 16th and reopened on August 17th. However, the painting *The Voorzaan and the Westerhem* was not on display at the "Monet in Zanndam" exhibition.
"We are currently re-evaluating the artwork, so it cannot be exhibited at the moment," Verweij said.
The painting The Voorzaan and the Westerhem 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 approximately $1.36 million (about 32 billion VND).
The painting depicts boats drifting lazily on the Zaan River. It was created during a visit to Zaandam in 1871. Monet sketched this scene from the window of the hotel where he, his wife, and their four-month-old son were staying. This is one of 25 works Monet created inspired by his visit to Zaandam.
In a letter to his colleague Camille Pissarro, Monet said that he could paint for a lifetime in Zaandam because of its many unique scenes, from colorful houses and windmills to idyllic boats.
