Dutch authorities have arrested three suspects after the theft of a priceless ancient golden helmet that is considered a cultural icon of Romania.

Dutch authorities are desperately investigating a major art heist of a millenia-old golden helmet from an ancient civilization in current-day Romania.

Robbers used explosives to break into the Drents Museum in Assen over the weekend and nab three antique bracelets and a 2,500-year-old gold helmet.

The objects, on loan from the Romanian National History Museum in Bucharest, belonged to members of the lost Dacian civilisation

The items—which include a helmet discovered by playing children—belonged to members of the lost Dacian civilisation

The 5th-century BC Helmet of Cotofenesti was among the valuable items taken during an overnight heist at Drents Museum in the Netherlands.

Several archaeological pieces from the Dacia - Empire of Gold and Silver exhibition showcasing Dacian treasures from Romania have been stolen after an explosion at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands on the night of January 24 to 25.

Following the recent theft at the Drents Museum in the Netherlands, the Brukenthal National Museum in Romania has decided to close temporarily to raise awareness about the importance of protecting cultural heritage.

The main artefact stolen from the Drents museum was the golden helmet of Cotofenesti, which was on loan from the National History Museum of Romania. View on euronews

The police said the golden helmet of Cotofenesti, a highly regarded artifact from Romania, was among the items stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands.

BUCHAREST - Far-right groups in Romania are using the theft of valuable Romanian cultural artefacts from a Dutch museum to promote conspiracy theories as the incident has escalated into a political blame game in Romania.

Known as the Helmet of Coțofenești, the stolen solid-gold headpiece dates back to roughly 450 BCE. It was discovered by a child in 1929 in a small Romanian village