Nazi-Looted Painting of Amsterdam's Nieuwe Kerk to Be Returned to Heirs of Jacques Goudstikker

A painting that belonged to Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker has been identified and will be returned to his heirs. The painting, depicting the interior of Amsterdam's Nieuwe Kerk, was discovered among street trash decades ago. This significant find was first reported by De Telegraaf, with crime reporter John van den Heuvel and art detective Arthur Brand collaborating on the identification.

Discovery of the Painting

Amsterdam resident Robert van der Hoek spotted the painting on the street while driving years ago. He described the moment, stating, "It was lying among a pile of rubbish, clearly intended to be removed by the city cleaning service. I took it with me because I thought it was a shame, and I put it in the cellar. It stood there for years." Recently, van der Hoek reached out to De Telegraaf after learning about another painting linked to Goudstikker.

Upon discovering the painting had a label stating “Collectie Goudstikker” with an inventory number, he contacted the newspaper. Brand authenticated the painting, confirming it was part of Goudstikker's collection.

Historical Context of the Painting

Goudstikker fled the Netherlands in 1940 during the Nazi invasion, leaving behind a collection of about 1,400 paintings. Tragically, he died aboard the SS Bodegraven, the last ship to leave the country. His collection was subsequently looted by the Nazis, with many artworks taken by Hermann Göring.

After the war, the Allied forces discovered over 200 of Goudstikker's paintings, which were returned to the Dutch government with the intent of restitution to his heirs. However, only 202 paintings were returned to them in 2006.

Significance of the Return

The return of this painting is a crucial moment in the ongoing effort to reclaim art stolen during the Holocaust. Goudstikker's black notebook, found with him, has been pivotal in proving ownership of his lost works. The Jewish Museum noted its importance, stating it is a “crucial piece of evidence in the battle to reclaim his art.”

Additionally, the article references another Goudstikker painting, a Giuseppe Ghislandi piece, which was recently identified in Argentina, highlighting the importance of ongoing investigations into Nazi-looted art.