Portrait looted by Nazis found in home of Dutch SS leader's descendants

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A Nazi-looted painting from the renowned Goudstikker collection has resurfaced in the Netherlands, found in the home of descendants of Hendrik Seyffardt, one of the highest-ranking Dutch collaborators with the Nazis during World War II. The artwork, "Portrait of a Young Girl" by Dutch artist Toon Kelder, is believed to have hung in the family's home for decades, according to art detective Arthur Brand, who described the case as "the most bizarre of my entire career."

The discovery was made after a family member, who wished to remain anonymous, approached Brand through an intermediary. The relative had recently uncovered two disturbing family secrets: that he was descended from Seyffardt, who commanded a Waffen-SS unit of volunteers on the eastern front, and that his family had been displaying looted art for years.

Coverage Comparison

The story has been reported by multiple outlets, including the BBC, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian, and the Jerusalem Post. While all sources agree on the core facts — the painting's origin in the Goudstikter collection, its discovery in Seyffardt's family home, and the family member's desire for its return — there are slight differences in emphasis. The Guardian and BBC frame the discovery as "bizarre" and "stunning," highlighting the unusual circumstances of the find. The Jerusalem Post focuses on the family member's shame and the moral imperative to return the artwork. Deutsche Welle provides additional context about the painting's probable inheritance by Seyffardt's son, a detail not mentioned by other outlets.

Key Claims

• The painting "Portrait of a Young Girl" was looted by the Nazis from the Goudstikker collection, as confirmed by multiple sources, including lawyers for the Goudstikker heirs.
• The painting was found in the home of Hendrik Seyffardt's family, where it is believed to have hung for decades.
• Arthur Brand was approached by a family member who wanted the painting returned to the Goudstikker heirs, according to reports from BBC, Deutsche Welle, and The Guardian.
• The painting had a Goudstikker label on the back and the number 92 etched into its frame, matching a 1940 auction catalog where looted works were sold, as reported by The Guardian and the BBC.
• Lawyers representing the Goudstikker heirs have confirmed the artwork was stolen and are seeking its restitution, according to Deutsche Welle and The Guardian.
• The family member expressed deep shame and a desire for the painting's return, telling Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: "I feel ashamed. The painting should be returned to the heirs of Goudstikker."

Perspectives

The discovery has been met with a range of reactions. The family member who contacted Brand told De Telegraaf that he was "stunned speechless" upon learning of his family's past and the painting's origin, adding that he felt "deep shame about the family past and am furious about the years of silence." He insisted that "the painting must return to the Jewish rightful heirs."

In contrast, another relative — Seyffardt's granddaughter — reportedly told the family member that the painting was "Jewish looted art, stolen from Goudstikker. It is unsellable. Don't tell anyone," according to Brand. However, in a statement to De Telegraaf, she said: "I received it from my mother. Now that you confront me like this, I understand that Goudstikker's heirs want the painting back. I didn't know that." The family, which changed its name after the war, has admitted to possessing the painting but denied knowing its true origin, according to Dutch media reports.

Arthur Brand, who has solved numerous high-profile stolen art cases, believes the painting was plundered by Hermann Göring, who looted Goudstikker's entire collection when the art dealer fled to England in 1940. This claim, however, has been attributed to Brand alone and has not been independently verified by other sources.

Context

Jacques Goudstikker was the Netherlands' leading dealer in Old Masters before the war, owning more than 1,200 artworks. His collection was looted during the Nazi occupation and remains the largest collection claim for missing art in the country. The discovery of "Portrait of a Young Girl" draws parallels to a 2025 case where another Nazi-looted painting from the Goudstikker collection was found in a property ad in Argentina, as noted by the BBC. Restitution efforts for the Goudstikker collection have been ongoing, and this latest find adds another chapter to that story.