A 2,500-year-old golden helmet and two other ancient Romanian treasures stolen from a museum in the Netherlands have been recovered thanks to information from the suspected thieves in detention, Dutch prosecutors said on Thursday (April 2).

The artifacts, from Geto-Dacian communities, were presented at a press conference at the Drents Museum in the northern Dutch city of Assen where they had been on loan but were stolen in an overnight heist in January last year.

The golden Helmet of Cotofenesti is one of Romania's most important archaeological objects.

The two gold bracelets recovered date back to 50 B.C. Another bracelet remains missing, lead prosecutor Corien Fahner told reporters.

Suspects in custody for months over the theft gave information leading to their return as part of a deal in relation to their trial, she added, without giving more details.

Three men are in custody in the Netherlands on suspicion of stealing the artifacts, setting off explosives

The artifacts belong to the National History Museum in Bucharest.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF GOLDEN HELMET AND TWO BRACELETS BEING REVEALED

2. CROWD APPLAUDING

3. GOLDEN HELMET AND BRACELETS ON DISPLAY

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROJUST NATIONAL MEMBER FOR ROMANIA, DANIELA BURUIANA, SAYING:

"We set up a joint investigation team that today brings fruits, getting these artefacts back to where they belong. Because they are part of the Romanian culture and heritage. But also of the European shared heritage."

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF THE DRENTS MUSEUM, ROBERT VAN LANGH, SAYING:

"Today I saw how deeply moved, happy, relieved and grateful my colleagues were when I told them that the helmet and two bracelets had been found. We can hardly imagine what this must feel like in Romania. For our colleagues at the National History Museum in Bucharest and for all Romanians. It is wonderful that the helmet and two of the three bracelets are now returning to where they belong."

6. PRESS FILMING ARTIFACTS