Dutch Town Hall Misplaces Priceless Warhol Prints Amid Renovations

A Dutch municipality has acknowledged mistakenly discarding 46 artworks, worth approximately €22,000, including an iconic Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix, during renovation activities. Investigations revealed poor storage practices led to this regrettable oversight.

A Dutch town hall has publicly acknowledged that it has likely thrown away 46 artworks, which include an Andy Warhol print of former Queen Beatrix, during renovation activities last year. The Maashorst municipality confirmed that these works, including a 1980s silkscreen print valued at around €15,000 (£12,800), vanished while the town hall in Uden was being remodeled.

An investigation into the disappearance indicated that the artworks had been stored in a basement during the renovations, but a lack of proper guidelines for their management likely contributed to their accidental disposal. Mayor Hans van der Pas expressed regret, stating, "That's not how you treat valuables. But it happened."

According to a statement released by the municipality on Thursday, it is suspected that the artworks were unintentionally taken out with the rubbish. Reports from investigators revealed that some of the pieces were inadequately stored in wheelie bins and were not treated with the necessary care.

The investigation concluded that the artworks' ownership had not been properly tracked and that no clear policies existed regarding their storage and conservation. Local media also estimated that the total value of the 46 mislaid artworks amounts to around €22,000 (£18,800), with the municipality conceding that it is unlikely the missing items will ever be recovered.

Queen Beatrix, who ruled from 1980 until her abdication in 2013 in favor of her son King Willem-Alexander, was featured in Warhol's 'Reigning Queens' series, which features colorful prints of four monarchs, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

Warhol, celebrated as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, produced these prints in 1985, two years prior to his passing. Ironically, in November of the previous year, two Warhol prints of Queen Beatrix and Queen Ntombi Twala were stolen from a Dutch art gallery but were abandoned by thieves as they could not be accommodated in their getaway vehicle.