Muddy holes litter the floor of a Dutch village where a map allegedly showing the locations of Nazi loot buried during World War II sparked an invasion of treasure hunters.
“That stimulates the imagination,” notes Klaas Tammes, President of the foundation, which owns the central property in Ommeren in the east of the country, with amusement.
The Dutch National Archives unveiled in early January a hand-drawn map with a red cross meant to mark the spot where German soldiers hid their treasure.
According to archive documents, according to eyewitness reports, four ammunition boxes with jewellery, precious stones, gold coins and music boxes were buried, the estimated total value of which is currently almost eleven million euros.
“All sorts of people came looking for these goods” collected by German soldiers after a bank bombing in 1944, told AFP Mr Tammes, 74, the village’s former mayor, outside his house built on the remains of a former Nazi -Headquarters.
But the loot “hasn’t been found yet,” he smiles.
“Unprecedented interest»
A few steps from his home, muddy holes along a tree-lined path and shallow ditch still bear witness to the excavation, consistent with the drawings on the map.
Many people armed with metal detectors poured into the peaceful village in recent days, prompting the community to impose a ban on digging and prompting police to send out new treasure hunters as soon as they arrived.
But some remain.
“We were immediately interested,” Hendrik Hingstman told AFP. His father Lammert is one of the many people who rushed to Ommeren. They hope to get an excavation permit soon.
“This interest was unprecedented for the National Archives,” emphasizes Erwin Tuil, spokesman for the institution.
Dutch Investigative Service (CVO) documents show at least three unsuccessful attempts to find the treasure in the spring of 1947, according to the testimony of Helmut Sonder, a German soldier allegedly involved in hiding the treasure.
According to the CVO, several scenarios can explain the failure of these excavations: The treasure is only the fruit of the soldier’s imagination, although his testimony was considered reliable. The loot may also have been recovered by people involved in its concealment or by CVO operatives.
“disturbed earth»
Archival documents also recall a final search in August 1947, when CVO operatives found “the earth churned up” before being approached by two American officers.
“So there’s also a chance the Americans got ahead of them,” Tuil told AFP.
Mr Tammes believes the treasure was buried in Ommeren before being recovered after the war. But there is “no evidence” of this, he says, adding that the museum belonging to his foundation has also asked for permission to dig.
“This story will go on for some time,” he notes.
The wave of treasure hunters remains a source of curiosity for the villagers.
“We see a lot of police action when people start digging here in the forest,” says Aart van Ommeren, 65, retired.
“It’s nice to be the center of attention for a while,” says Teunis Kramp, 69, a volunteer at the local history museum, adding, “Maybe people will come back for the treasure this summer, but I don’t give them much.” a chance’ to find it.