The Maashorst municipality in the Netherlands has acknowledged it "most likely" accidentally discarded 46 artworks—including a €15,000 Andy Warhol silkscreen of former Queen Beatrix—during town hall renovations last year.  

How It Happened
- The artworks were stored in basement wheelie bins during the merger of Uden and Landerd municipalities into Maashorst.  
- No formal guidelines existed for handling the collection, leading to the pieces being "not handled with care" (per investigation reports).  
- Officials suspect the art was mistakenly tossed with construction debris. "That’s not how you treat valuables. But it happened," Mayor Hans van der Pas told media.  

Lost Treasures
The missing Warhol print was part of his 1985 *Reigning Queens* series, featuring four monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II. The 46 works totaled €22,000 in value, but recovery is deemed unlikely.  

Broader Context
This isn’t the first Warhol-related mishap in the region:  
- In November 2023, thieves stole—then abandoned—two *Reigning Queens* prints (including Beatrix’s) from a Dutch gallery after they couldn’t fit them in their getaway car.  

Institutional Failure
An official report cited:  
1. No clear ownership or policies for art management  
2. Poor storage conditions  
3. Delayed response when artworks went missing  

The municipality has expressed regret but faces scrutiny over its safeguarding of cultural assets.  

Key Quote:  
"Ownership was not properly established … [there was] insufficient action when the artworks turned out to be missing." — Investigation report  

This incident highlights ongoing challenges in preserving public art collections during administrative transitions.