Of course, there are examples. In 1997, two works including a Van Gogh were stolen from the KMSKA in Antwerp. The paintings were later found in a van. The Magritte Museum also fell victim to thieves in 2009: the surrealist’s Olympia was stolen and only reappeared two years later. One possible suspect was Khalid El Bakraoui, one of the suicide bombers at Maalbeek metro station in the terrorist attacks of March 2016.
In 2013, a dozen works, including one by James Ensor, were stolen from the Van Buuren House in Uccle. There were lengthy negotiations, but the works have still not been found.
What makes art so attractive to criminals? The most obvious reason is the big money that can be made.
