Europe

Picasso, Matisse and Van Gogh paintings of 'considerable value' stolen in Dutch art heist

Several paintings on loan to the Kunsthal Rotterdam in the Netherlands were taken in the early hours of today.

Associated Press

October 16, 2012

AMSTERDAM // Several paintings, including works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh, have been stolen from a museum in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.

Mariette Maaskant of Kunsthal Rotterdam said on national radio that the paintings taken were of "considerable value," but she didn't specify what had been stolen.

Police spokesman Roland Ekkers said the theft had taken place late Monday or early Tuesday. He also declined to give more details as the investigation was getting underway.

The paintings taken were on loan from the private Triton Foundation, Ms Maaskant said.

They went on display last week as one of two exhibitions arranged in honor of the Kunsthal's 20th anniversary.

The museum will be closed today.

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.