The National Archive in The Hague has recovered 25 centuries -old documents that had been stolen by an employee ten years ago. Art detective Arthur Brand got hold of the pieces and brought them back to The Hague in collaboration with the Amsterdam police.
Among the archive documents is a report of the first meeting of the United East India Company (VOC) from 1602. For the first time the VOC logo would have been officially recorded.
A ship log by Admiraal Michiel de Ruyter from the period 1640 to 1642 is also part of the pieces found. “In the first part of the report, De Ruyter was still a merchant starter. The second part describes his first naval experience in the Battle of Sint-Vincent, in 1641, to the Spaniards,” Brand tells De Telegraaf. This describes, among other things, how the ship of De Ruyter is being attacked by guns.
Earlier this year, Brand was approached by someone who had found a box with documents in the attic of an action -unpleasant family member. After brief research, he discovered that it was top pieces. For example, the VOC documents are part of the Memory of the World register of UNESCO.
Brand describes the discovery as the find of his life. “It is a kind of treasure island, you are going on a journey in the seventeenth century,” he says. Most recovered pieces come from that century. But the box also contained a book about secret meetings of the States General between 1592 and 1604 and pieces of King William I from the beginning of the nineteenth century. “And a letter of 4 meters long from 1445 from a knight.”
Former Stal Documents from National Archives
The former archive employee who has stolen the documents has since died. No one is prosecuted for the theft.
The archive is very happy with the return of the pieces, says the spokesperson. It was unknown that the documents were stolen. “We knew about a few pieces that they were missing, but that can have all kinds of causes. For example, a document can accidentally be put back incorrectly,” she tells ANP .
How the former employee was able to steal the documents is unclear. “Security is a process that never stops,” says a spokesperson for the National Archives.
The National Archive manages the largest collection of archives in the Netherlands, including documents from the central government, archives of the province of South Holland and private collections. “We manage more than 145 kilometers of archive, more than 15 million photos and 300,000 cards and drawings. With such numbers you cannot fully make an inventory of all documents.”
The National Archives in The Hague Has Recovered 25 Centuries-old Documents That Were Stolen Ten Years ago by An Employee. Art Detective Arthur Brand Obtrained the Documents and Returned Them to the Hague in Collaboration with the Amsterdam Police.
Among The Archive Pieces is a report of the first meeting of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) from 1602. The VOC Logo would have Been Official established for the first time.
A Ship’s Logbook of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter from the Period 1640 to 1642 is also part of the found pieces. “In The First Part of the Report, De Ruyter was still a merchant. The Second part describes His First Naval Experience in the Battle of Sint-Vincent, in 1641, Against The Spaniards,” Brand Tells De Telegraaf. It describes, Among Other Things, How de Ruyter’s Ship is Fired Upon by Cannons.
Brand was approached earlier this year by some who had found a box of documents in the Attic of an Incapacitated Family Member. After a letter Investigation, the discovered that they were Masterpieces. For Example, The VOC Pieces Are Part of Unesco’s Memory of the World Register.
Brand describes the discovery as the find of his life. “It’s a child of treasure island, you go on a journey in the seventeeneth century,” he says. Most of the recovered pieces come from that century. But the box also contained a book about secret meetings of the States general between 1592 and 1604 and pieces from king William I From the Early NineteENTH CENTURY. “And a letter 4 meters long from 1445 from a knight.”
Former Employee Stole Pieces from National Archives
The Former Archive Employee Who Stole The Documents has Since died. No one is being prosecuted for the theft.
The Archive is very happy with the return of the pieces, says the spokesperson. It was not Known That the Documents Had Been Stolen. “We knew that some pieces were missing, but that could have all sorts of causes. For Example, a Document can accidentally be put back in the Wrong Place,” She Tells ANP .
It is Unclear How the Former Employee was Able to Steal the Pieces. “Security is a process that never stops,” Says a Spokesperson for the National Archives.
The National Archives Manages The Largest Collection of Archives in the Netherlands, Including Documents from the National Government, Archives From the Province of South Holland and Private Collections. “We manage more than 145 kilometers of archives, more than 15 million photos and 300,000 Maps and Drawings. With Such Numbers You Cannot Fully Inventory All Pieces.”