I amsterdam's missing letters

Stolen in the night

They came in the night to the Museumplein without anyone noticing and escaped with the loot. They didn't take Rembrandt's Nightwatch from the Rijksmuseum. Nor was it a work of Van Gogh's, but something much larger.

The A and the M (pictured together, right) of Amsterdam's iconic I amsterdam letters that sit at Museumplein were stolen between 4:30 and 5:30 on Monday morning. Police are investigating the theft.

24 metres long

Last seen here, the 24-metre-long iconic letters have been a favourite photo opportunity for visitors to the city and a physical testament to the City's motto of inclusiveness and unity.

'I find it incredible!'

Charles Van Renesse, director of Amsterdam Partners, the organisation responsible for the I amsterdam motto and promotion of this fine city, said 'I find it incredible. These letters weigh nearly two thousand kilograms each.' Video and news article (in Dutch).

A real who dunnit

Rumours abound with what has happened to them. Someone must love Amsterdam so much they wanted a little souvenir to take home.

Maybe drunken Brits abroad smuggled them back to Blighty in their luggage?

Perhaps the letters themselves got sick of this long winter and offered their services to sunny MiAMi.

Since their disappearance, the letters were sighted briefly on Dutch auction site Marktplaats, posted by one Erik Gilliroam, before vanishing again. Nevertheless their appearance on the auction site begs the question... 'How much would you pay for a piece of Amsterdam?' We think it's priceless.

A promotional stunt

Circulating around the internet is another theory. On Monday a large origami-like sculpture stood in the letters' place. Some believe it's a stunt (link in Dutch) by a gaming company due to release a video called Heavy Rain.

The sculpture looked uncannily like the calling card the character in the video game leaves... And Erik Gilliroam is an anagram of Origami Killer, the character from the game. The plot thickens!

Photo opportunity

In the interim we ask not what your city can do for you, but what you can do for your city. I amsterdam.com are calling on residents and visitors alike to fill in for the missing letters so as not to lose the spirit of I amsterdam. Take a photo of yourselves, friends or family in place of the vacant A and M and upload your photos to our I amsterdam facebook fan page.