Misplaced Art: Dutch Town Hall's Renovation Blunder Losses Warhol Prints

Maashorst municipality faces scrutiny after 46 pieces, including an Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix, are likely thrown away during renovations.

In a stunning turn of events, the Maashorst municipality in the Netherlands has revealed that it "most likely" fell victim to a restoration misstep that led to the accidental disposal of 46 artworks, including a silkscreen print of Queen Beatrix by renowned artist Andy Warhol. The print, created in the 1980s, is valued at approximately €15,000 (£12,800) and was on display at an exhibition in Apeldoorn last October.

The disappearance of these artworks occurred during renovation work on a town hall in Uden, which is being redesigned as part of a merger into the adjacent Landerd municipality. An investigation determined that the artworks had been stored inadequately in a basement and that insufficient storage protocols may have contributed to their loss.

Mayor Hans van der Pas expressed regret to Omroep Brabant, stating, "That's not how you treat valuables. But it happened." The municipality acknowledged that the missing pieces most likely ended up in the trash, highlighting serious administrative failures.

Investigators discovered that some of the artwork had been unceremoniously placed in wheelie bins and not treated with the necessary care. The investigation’s findings pointed to a lack of established ownership and a failure to implement necessary policies, procedures, and prompt actions regarding the artworks once their absence was noted.

With an estimated collective worth of €22,000 (£18,800), it is highly unlikely that the lost artworks will resurface. The Queen Beatrix print was part of Warhol’s celebrated Reigning Queens series, which featured a total of 16 vibrant prints of prominent monarchs, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

In a related incident last year, Warhol prints of Queen Beatrix and Queen Ntombi Twala were stolen during an art heist but were later recovered after being abandoned by the thieves for not fitting in their vehicle. As the community grapples with the repercussions of this blunder, it raises significant concerns regarding the care and handling of cultural artifacts within municipal spaces.