If the Romanian artifacts stolen from the Drents Museum in Assen are not found, the Netherlands will have to stump up €5.8 million in compensation, the education ministry has confirmed, according to a report by local broadcaster RTV Drenthe.

The museum is only liable for the own risk element in an arrangement in which the Dutch state takes the lion’s share of the guarantee against theft and damage to valuable objects lent to Dutch museums. High insurance premiums would otherwise cripple museums.

If the objects are found the ministry will also have to pay for any damage to them.

Last year, the state guaranteed almost €460 million worth of art lent to 13 museums.

It is unclear when a claim for compensation would be filed.  Police have arrested three people in connection with the theft and are looking for a fourth suspect.

The gang are accused of making off with some of Romania’s most treasured artifacts, including the golden helmet of Cotofenesti, crafted from almost pure gold and dating from 500 BC, along with three gold armbands, all part of the country’s Dacian heritage.

Since then, the director of the Romanian National History Museum in Bucharest, who lent the objects to the Drents Museum, has been fired over alleged irregularities over the export licence.

The incident has strained relations between the two countries. Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said in a statement he was “like all Romanians, outraged” and that the Dutch state is “entirely responsible for the robbery”.