Spectacular case in the art world: Painting stolen by Nazis discovered in the house of SS general descendants

Seyffardt was one of the highest-ranking Nazi collaborators in the Netherlands and commander of a Dutch volunteer unit of the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front in World War II. When he was killed by resistance fighters in 1943, the Nazis gave him a state funeral in The Hague, including a wreath from Adolf Hitler.

Hermann Göring looted the entire Goudstikker collection after the art dealer fled to Great Britain in 1940. Fire suspected that Seyffardt acquired the painting at an auction in 1940.

Brand describes the image that has now become public as: “the most bizarre case in my entire career.” He was contacted by another of Seyffardt’s descendants who wanted to remain anonymous. He only recently found out that he is related to the Nazi collaborator – and that the painting, which had been hanging in his granddaughter’s house for years, was originally owned by Jews. “It was stolen from Goudstikker, it’s not for sale, don’t tell anyone about it”According to Brand, the granddaughter is said to have told the man.

However, he told the newspaper “De Telegraaf”: “I’m ashamed. The painting should be returned to Goudstikker’s heirs.” The grandmother told the newspaper that she did not know that it was stolen art. “I got it from my mother.” Now she can understand that Goudstikker’s heirs wanted the picture back. Her family is discussing a return. According to Detective Brand, the heirs have already demanded the return of the picture.

“I have previously discovered art looted by the Nazis during World War II, including pieces in the Louvre, the Dutch Royal Collection and many museums,” Brand said. “But to find a painting from the famous Goudstikker collection owned by descendants of a notorious Dutch Waffen-SS general, that really surpasses everything.“