Dutch police recover stolen 17th-century paintings

London, Sept 17 (ANI): Five 17th century paintings stolen from the Netherlands' Frans Hals Museum more than six years ago have been recovered by the police in Holland.

According to the police, the paintings include Steen's "Charlatan on the Market," as well as works by Cornelis Bega, Adriaan van Ostade and Cornelis Dusart.

The paintings, worth millions of euros, were recovered after an 18-month investigation by Dutch police and Britain's Serious and Organised Crime Agency, with the help of undercover agents, reports the Daily Express.

Museum spokesman Louis Pirenne revealed that three of the works had been damaged.

The work, from a movement aimed to depict daily Dutch life in the 1600s, often with a moral message, would be up for display from Sept 17 at the museum in Haarlem.

Steen's "Charlatan on the Market" portrays a quack doctor selling medicines of dubious value to naive market-goers.

Of two paintings by Van Ostade, one titled "The Contented Drinker" is considered the greatest masterpiece of the five. The other Van Ostade is also titled "Charlatan on the Market."

The cops have arrested three men on suspicion of receiving the stolen paintings. (ANI)