Dutch Town Hall Disposes of Warhol’s Queen Beatrix Print by Mistake
In a startling admission, a Dutch town hall has acknowledged that it “most likely” disposed of 46 artworks—among them an Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix—during renovation works in 2023. The Maashorst municipality confirmed that the pieces, valued at a total of around €22,000 (£18,800), went missing amid disorganized storage practices during construction work on a municipal building in Uden.
Warhol Print Among 46 Artworks Lost During Renovation
Among the disposed works was a silkscreen print of Queen Beatrix created by American pop art icon Andy Warhol in the 1980s. Valued at approximately €15,000 (£12,800), the print belonged to Warhol’s famous Reigning Queens series, which depicted four prominent monarchs in his signature colorful style. Warhol created the series in 1985, two years before his death in 1987.
The municipality stated that the artworks were stored in the building’s basement during the renovation. A later investigation revealed that many were placed in wheelie bins and handled with little regard for their value or preservation needs.
Lack of Policy and Oversight Blamed for Loss
The report by investigators concluded that there was a complete absence of established policies or guidelines for the storage and conservation of the artworks. It found that “ownership was not properly established, no policies and procedures were established regarding the renovation, and insufficient action was taken when the artworks turned out to be missing.”
Mayor Hans van der Pas of Maashorst admitted the severity of the blunder, telling broadcaster Omroep Brabant, “That’s not how you treat valuables. But it happened. We regret that.”
Municipality Merger and Art Mismanagement
The incident occurred during renovations on a town hall in Uden, which was being incorporated into the neighboring municipality of Landerd to form the new Maashorst municipality. Amidst the administrative merger and construction, oversight of cultural assets appears to have fallen through the cracks.
The municipality now believes it is highly unlikely the artworks will ever be recovered, as they were likely removed with regular construction waste.
History of Warhol’s Royal Portraits
Warhol’s Reigning Queens series features four reigning monarchs of the time: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Queen Ntombi Twala of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The prints are well-regarded in the art world and often command high prices at auctions and exhibitions.
Queen Beatrix served as the queen of the Netherlands from 1980 until her abdication in 2013, when she was succeeded by her son, King Willem-Alexander. The Warhol print in question symbolized both artistic and historical significance in Dutch cultural heritage.
Warhol Artworks Targeted in Recent Heist
Interestingly, this is not the only recent incident involving Warhol prints in the Netherlands. In November 2024, four silkscreen prints—including those of Queen Beatrix and Queen Ntombi—were stolen from the MPV Gallery in North Brabant. However, local police later reported that the two larger portraits were abandoned by the thieves because they didn’t fit in their getaway vehicle.
The recurring issues surrounding Warhol prints in the region have reignited calls for improved security, inventory practices, and cultural asset management, especially among public institutions.
Lessons from a Preventable Loss
As municipalities across Europe undergo administrative changes and infrastructure upgrades, the case of Maashorst serves as a stark warning. Without clear policies and protocols, even priceless works of art can be mistaken for trash—literally.
The loss of the Warhol Queen Beatrix print may not just be a bureaucratic error but a cultural tragedy that highlights the fragile stewardship of public art collections.
Category: Art & Culture News, European Affairs
Tags: Andy Warhol, Queen Beatrix, Warhol Reigning Queens, Maashorst municipality, Dutch art news, artwork disposal, silkscreen print, lost artwork, Netherlands news, town hall renovation
