Amid COVID 19 outbreak, Van Gogh's painting Spring Garden stolen from Dutch museum

Police said on Monday there had been a break in at the Singer Laren Museum at 03:15 local time (02:15 GMT), BBC reported.

The museum later announced that Van Gogh’s Spring Garden, on loan from the Groninger Museum, was missing, reported the British media.

Image: The Spring Garden by Van Gogh which was stolen

The museum is currently closed due to the spread of coronavirus across the world, including Europe, one of the hard hit continents by COVID-19.

The painting, on display as part of the museum’s exhibition Mirror of the Soul – From Toorop to Mondrian, was on loan from the Groninger Museum, the museum said in a statement.

"We are deeply shocked, angry and saddened," museum director Jan Rudolph de Lorm was quoted as saying by the website.

"A magnificent and poignant painting by one of our greatest artists has been taken from the community. It is terrible for the Groninger Museum and for Singer Laren, but above all for every one of us. Art exists to be shared, to enjoy, to inspire and offer comfort, particularly in times such as these. Art is vital to our culture,"  Jan Rudolph de Lorm said.

"Security at Singer Laren complies with protocol. It has been coordinated with the insurance experts, with whom Singer Laren is currently in close consultation," said Evert van Os, managing director.

An investigation has been launched.