Dutch Town Hall Regrets Loss of Andy Warhol Artworks During Renovation

A renovation at the Maashorst municipality in the Netherlands resulted in the accidental disposal of 46 artworks, including a valuable Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix. The incident highlights the lack of proper storage and handling protocols for valuable artworks, prompting an investigation and public regret from local officials.

A Dutch town hall, located in the Maashorst municipality, has revealed that it "most likely" discarded 46 valuable artworks during renovation works last year, including a prominent Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix. The artwork, a silkscreen print created in the 1980s and valued at around €15,000 (£12,800), was reportedly lost amidst construction activities.

Mayor Hans van der Pas acknowledged the unfortunate situation during an interview with local broadcaster Omroep Brabant, expressing deep regret over how the artworks were treated. “That's not how you treat valuables. But it happened. We regret that,” he stated.

The artworks were stored in a basement during town hall renovations in Uden, which is merging with neighboring Landerd to form the new municipality of Maashorst. Investigators discovered that several pieces of art had been carelessly placed in wheelie bins, and a lack of clear guidelines for their storage contributed to their mishap during the cleanup.

A detailed report by local authorities pointed out that proper ownership procedures were not followed, and that no specific policies were established regarding the handling of the artworks during the renovation. They also noted insufficient action was taken once the artworks were noticed as missing. Altogether, the 46 lost artworks are estimated to be worth approximately €22,000 (£18,800). Sadly, the municipality has acknowledged that it is unlikely they will ever be recovered.

Queen Beatrix, who reigned from 1980 until her abdication in 2013, was part of Warhol's renowned series, “Reigning Queens,” which featured various monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II and Margrethe II of Denmark. These prints exemplified Warhol's iconic style and were created just before his death in 1987.

This incident comes on the heels of a November heist where Warhol prints of Queen Beatrix and Queen Ntombi Twala were stolen from a Dutch art gallery. However, reports indicated that these specific prints were abandoned shortly after being stolen due to their size not fitting in the thieves' getaway vehicle. The current situation raises important questions regarding the management and preservation of artistic heritage in municipal settings.