Art Thief Nils M. Recaptured After Prison Escape

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Nils M., a 63-year-old convicted art thief responsible for stealing paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Frans Hals, has been apprehended by police in Amsterdam after escaping from prison in January. The arrest occurred on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, bringing an end to a two-month manhunt .

Details of the Escape and Capture

M. Was serving an eight-year sentence for the 2020 thefts of paintings from museums in Laren and Leerdam . He escaped whereas being transferred from a prison in Nieuwegein to a low-security unit, where prisoners are permitted to leave during the day for reintegration purposes, such as seeking employment . Instead of reporting to the low-security facility, M. Fled.

The arrest was carried out with the assistance of the Dienst Speciale Interventies (DSI), a specialized intervention unit .

Previous Convictions

In addition to the art thefts, Nils M. Was also convicted of illegal firearm possession and possession of over 10,000 MDMA pills and . He initially received his eight-year sentence in 2021 and .

Future Proceedings

Due to his escape, M. Will not be immediately returned to the low-security unit. A decision regarding his potential early release, previously scheduled for approximately one year from now, will be re-evaluated in light of his flight .