Ancient gold helmet returned to Romanian after theft from Dutch museum

A 2,500-year-old golden helmet stolen last year from a Dutch museum where it was on loan has been returned to Romania.

The priceless ornate Cotofenesti helmet and three golden bracelets — some of Romania’s most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization — were snatched from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands in January 2025 in a raid that shocked the art world and devastated Romanian authorities.

But after 14 months of investigations, diplomatic tensions, and three suspects in an ongoing trial, the artifacts touched down at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport on Tuesday.