A Dutch municipality has confirmed that it "most likely" threw away 46 artworks, among them a notable Andy Warhol silkscreen print featuring Queen Beatrix, during renovation activities last year. The Maashorst government stated that the print, valued at approximately €15,000 (£12,800), went missing during the building's refurbishment in Uden, now part of the new Maashorst municipality.
An investigation revealed the artworks were stored improperly in a basement, lacking clear guidelines for their care. Mayor Hans van der Pas expressed regret, stating: "That’s not how you treat valuables. But it happened." The municipality reported that artworks were carelessly placed in wheelie bins and, as a result, likely disposed of in the trash.
A detailed investigation report noted significant failures in art handling, with poor ownership documentation and an absence of established procedures for storage, care, and security of the artworks during the renovations. The total estimated value of the 46 pieces lost is around €22,000 (£18,800), and the chances of recovery are viewed as slim.
Queen Beatrix was the Dutch monarch from 1980 until her abdication in 2013, and the Warhol print was part of his esteemed Reigning Queens series, which includes portraits of four prominent queens. Warhol produced these iconic works in 1985, just two years before his passing.
This unfortunate incident follows a previous art gallery heist in November of last year, where prints of Queen Beatrix and another queen were stolen but later abandoned as they couldn't fit into the thieves' vehicle.
