Big art heist at Dutch museum

Amsterdam:  Several paintings have been stolen from a museum in the Dutch city of Rotterdam that was exhibiting works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh. Mariette Maaskant of the Kunsthal Rotterdam museum said on national radio that the paintings taken were of “considerable value,” but she didn’t specify what had been stolen. [caption id=“attachment_492388” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Pic used for representational purposes only.[/caption] Police spokesman Roland Ekkers said the theft had taken place late Monday or early Tuesday. He also declined to give more details as the investigation was getting under way. The paintings taken were on loan from the private Triton Foundation, Maaskant said. They went on display last week as one of two exhibitions arranged in honor of the Kunsthal’s 20th anniversary. The museum will be closed Tuesday. AP