September 29, 2000
CONTENTS:
PRESS RELEASE OFFICE JOHAN SAUWENS FLEMISH MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
(slightly abbreviated message. T.C.)
Approved-By: persdienst.sauwens@VLAANDEREN.BE Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 15:26:04 +0200
Reply-To: persdienst.sauwens@vlaanderen.be
Sender: Vlaanderen General List VLAANDEREN@EXT.NETVISION.BE
From: persdienst.sauwens@vlaanderen.be
Subject: VLAREG Sauwens: oproep naar aanleiding van diefstal
To: VLAANDEREN@EXT.NETVISION.BE
September 28, 2000
Call by Minister Johan Sauwens concerning recent art thefts.
In the past few weeks several very bold art heists took place in Belgium churches:
- two altarputti were stolen from the 'Onze-Lieve-Vrouw' basilica in Kortenbos;
- two confession chairs from the Saint Quintinus cathedral in hasselt;
- a saint's statue from the 'Onze-Lieve-Vrouw' church in Sint-Truiden;
- two saint's statues and two altar angels from the Holy Elisabeth church in Zoersel;
- two 16th century statues from the parish church in Meeuwen-Gruitrode.
Johan Sauwens, Flemish minister for Monuments and Landscapes, calls all churches and everybody dedicated to the protection of religious heritage to immediately take security measures. The owners of protected monuments are obliged to take all necessary measures to protect this heritage against destruction. It is of the utmost importance to take precautions against theft and vandalism. Initiatives in this field may count on support by the ministry. The minister refers to the possibility to receive restoration premiums.
In view of the recent deluge of thefts the minister advices to take the following precautionary measures:
1: check all locks of windows and doors and strengthen these where needed;
2: fit extra burglary proof locks on all doors;
3: put all valuable objects in safe rooms with applicable security measures;
4: buildings should only be open to the public when guards are present;
5: transfer very valuable objects to nearby museums;
6: report all thefts to the police and provide all needed documentation (adequate descriptions, and photographs)
Those churches who have difficulties in applying safety measures or reporting thefts to the police are advised to get in touch with:
Ministry of the Flemish Community
Department of Monuments and Landscapes
Rob Buelens
Phone 016/211201 - cellphone: 075/237621 - facsimile: 016/205526
Robert.buelens@lin.vlaanderen.be
APSD (General Police Support Service)
Central Service Art and Antiques
Dirk Deklerck
Quatre Brasstreet 13, box 1
1000 - Brussels
phone 02/5087197/92 - facsimile: 02/5087156
sgapsd@softhome.net
Since all thefts are aimed in particular at the historic statues heritage the administration already has instructed to take all possible adequate measures on short notice. The provincial monument watches have been instructed to check all theft prevention measures the next few months.
INFO : Joris Vandenbroucke (02) 553 23 11
Adriaan Linters
===========================
Vredelaan 72
B-8500 Kortrijk
T.: (+32)56.253373
F.: (+32)56.417636
Mobile : (+32)496.377791
alinters@conservare.be
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A. Linters is director of Kleio nv heritage consultants,
scientific director of Conservare nv,
and chairman of the Flemish Association for Industrial Archaeology.
Please visit our websites :
- http://www.conservare.be
- http://www.conservare.be/kleio/
- http://www.conservare.be/vvia/
- http://eur-heritage.com