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A Dutch Quest for Buried Nazi Treasure Comes Up Empty A Dutch Quest for Buried Nazi Treasure Comes Up Empty
(4 days later)
Joke Honders had been up since 2:10 a.m. After months of waiting for approval from local Dutch officials, as well as for better weather, the time had come on Monday: An official team of experts would take its first, last and best shot at excavating a trove of treasures hidden by the Nazis.Joke Honders had been up since 2:10 a.m. After months of waiting for approval from local Dutch officials, as well as for better weather, the time had come on Monday: An official team of experts would take its first, last and best shot at excavating a trove of treasures hidden by the Nazis.
Ms. Honders, a longtime resident and local historian, was in charge of the complex early-morning operation, which involved metal detectors, an excavator and a team of archaeologists, and she could not help but marvel at what was unfolding before her.Ms. Honders, a longtime resident and local historian, was in charge of the complex early-morning operation, which involved metal detectors, an excavator and a team of archaeologists, and she could not help but marvel at what was unfolding before her.
“This is exciting!” she said, coordinating the real-life treasure hunt in a grassy area next to an apple orchard in Ommeren, a sleepy village with about 750 residents that is 40 miles southeast of Amsterdam.“This is exciting!” she said, coordinating the real-life treasure hunt in a grassy area next to an apple orchard in Ommeren, a sleepy village with about 750 residents that is 40 miles southeast of Amsterdam.
What it was not, it turned out, was successful.What it was not, it turned out, was successful.
Despite digging three separate holes within feet of each other — in an area that Ms. Honders had identified by overlaying ancient maps, modern maps and a hand-drawn map from a German soldier, and marked by little red flags — they had come up empty.
The fruitless morning brought an end to a monthslong pursuit that had enticed dozens of people with shovels and metal detectors to the tiny Dutch village in the hopes of unearthing four ammunition boxes loaded with stolen jewels, gold and watches.