A rare silkscreen print by Andy Warhol depicting Queen Beatrix has gone missing, believed to have been accidentally discarded by the municipality of Maashorst during town hall renovation works, highlighting serious failings in art collection management.
A rare silkscreen print by the renowned pop artist Andy Warhol has been reported missing and is believed to have been accidentally disposed of by a Dutch municipality during renovation work. The Maashorst town hall, in the Netherlands, revealed on Thursday that the artwork was among 46 valuable pieces of art that “most likely” ended up in the rubbish.
The missing Warhol print depicted Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and formed part of Warhol’s 1985 series called Reigning Queens, which includes 16 vivid portraits of four monarchs: Elizabeth II of England, Beatrix of the Netherlands, Margrethe II of Denmark, and Ntombi Twala of Eswatini. These silkscreens were inspired by the queens’ official state portraits, which Warhol chose because of their frequent mass reproduction on items like stamps and currency.
The artworks belonged to the borough of Uden’s collection, which was incorporated into the newly formed municipality of Maashorst three years ago. Prior to this reorganisation, the artworks were inventoried and then divided: some pieces were loaned to a local museum, others displayed in the new town hall, and several were returned to the artists. However, in the process, 46 pieces, including Warhol’s print, vanished.
Maashorst town hall commissioned an independent investigation to determine the fate of the missing artworks. The inquiry concluded that inadequate policies and procedures for the registration, storage, conservation, and security of the art collection were responsible for the loss. During renovation work in 2023, many of the artworks were stored carelessly in a town hall basement, where they suffered water and other damage before they disappeared.
Mayor Hans van der Pas spoke to the Dutch public broadcaster NOS, expressing deep regret over the incident. He said, “This is not how you treat valuable items. It is a serious matter when public property, especially art with cultural and historic value, is treated so carelessly … But it happened. We regret that.”
The municipality suggested it was unlikely that the missing artworks could ever be recovered, acknowledging the seriousness of the disruption and careless handling. The incident has underscored the importance of proper stewardship of public art collections, particularly during transitions such as institutional mergers and building renovations.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://nltimes.nl/2025/04/24/maashorst-dumped-46-artworks-trash-including-warhol-portrait-queen-beatrix – This article supports the claim that 46 artworks, including a rare Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix, were likely discarded during renovation work in the Dutch municipality of Maashorst. It confirms that these pieces were part of a larger art collection.
- https://bilyonaryo.com/2025/04/24/pop-art-most-likely-trashed-art-after-dutch-town-hall-move/fine-works/ – This report corroborates the incident involving the disposal of valuable artworks, including a Warhol silkscreen print of Princess Beatrix, in the Maashorst municipality. It details the circumstances surrounding the loss of the artworks.
- https://nltimes.nl/ – While the specific page is not accessible, NLTimes is a source that often covers Dutch news, which would include updates on the Maashorst incident. It would provide broader context on local reactions and responses to such incidents.
- https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241101-two-andy-warhol-artworks-stolen-in-netherlands-gallery-heist – Although related to a different incident, this article highlights the vulnerability of Andy Warhol artworks in the Netherlands, as two pieces from the ‘Reigning Queens’ series were stolen in a separate event. It emphasizes the importance of art security in the region.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This is the source article itself, providing an overview of the entire situation including the disposal of artworks and the investigation into the incident.
- http://www.artandobject.com/news/andy-warhol-screen-prints-stolen-dutch-gallery – This article reports on the theft of Andy Warhol screen prints from a Dutch gallery, which, while unrelated to the Maashorst incident, demonstrates the fragility and value of Warhol artworks in the Netherlands.
- https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/apr/24/andy-warhol-artwork-accidentally-thrown-out-during-dutch-town-hall-renovation – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The piece is current, with the incident reported in 2025, involving recent events such as renovation work in 2023.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The quote from Mayor Hans van der Pas is not verified as the first or only source, but it aligns with the narrative of regret over the incident.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a well-established and reputable news source known for its trustworthy reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident seems plausible given the context of a chaotic renovation process and inadequate art handling procedures, although it couldn’t be independently verified beyond the report.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears reliable due to its recent reporting and origin from a reputable source. The incident’s plausibility is high given the described circumstances.
