Home / The Old Fox: Case Files
Watch on YouTube
Premieres 5 November 2026 at 3pm UK time
The Old Fox: Case Files · Episode 12
Han van Meegeren: The Forger Who Fooled Göring
Han van Meegeren painted fake Vermeers good enough to fool a Rotterdam museum and Hermann Göring. Arrested as a collaborator in 1945, he could only clear himself by proving the paintings were his own fakes.
- In the 1930s and 1940s, the Dutch painter Han van Meegeren forged paintings in the style of Vermeer, using Bakelite and heat to make the paint look centuries old (Wikipedia, 'Han van Meegeren'; Colby College).
- His Supper at Emmaus was bought as a Vermeer by Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam in 1937 (Wikipedia; Colby College).
- During the war another of his forgeries went to Hermann Göring, in exchange for 137 looted paintings (Wikipedia; Colby College).
- Arrested for collaboration in 1945, he confessed to forgery and painted a new 'Vermeer' under supervision to prove it (Wikipedia; Colby College).
- He was convicted of forgery and fraud in November 1947 and sentenced to one year, but died that December before serving it (Wikipedia; Colby College).
🌐 https://theoldfoxtalks.com
Watch on YouTube Follow on TikTok
Share this story
What the fox said
Ever heard of a man who had to prove he was a crook, to save his own neck? Let's see what's on.
The Netherlands, the 1930s. Han van Meegeren is a painter. And the critics aren't keen on his work.
So he sets out to beat them at their own game. He'll paint a Vermeer. A brand-new one.
He uses old canvases. And mixes his paint with a plastic, Bakelite, then bakes it hard, so it cracks like it's three hundred years old.
In 1937, his Supper at Emmaus is bought by a museum in Rotterdam. Hailed as a Vermeer.
Then comes the war. Another of his fake Vermeers ends up with Hermann Göring, Hitler's right-hand man.
Göring hands over a hundred and thirty-seven paintings in exchange. Paintings the Nazis had looted.
After the war, the sale is traced back. In 1945, van Meegeren is arrested for collaboration. Selling a national treasure to the enemy.
So he confesses. To something smaller. It's not a Vermeer. He painted it himself.
Not everyone believes him. So he paints another Vermeer, with officials looking on.
Overnight, the collaborator becomes a folk hero. The man who fooled Göring.
In November 1947, he's convicted of forgery and fraud. One year in prison.
He never serves it. Weeks later, he's dead of a heart attack.
Fake paintings. Real nerve. Case closed. Keep your nose to the wind.
Sources
- In the 1930s and 1940s, the Dutch painter Han van Meegeren forged paintings in the style of Vermeer, using Bakelite and heat to make the paint look centuries old (Wikipedia, 'Han van Meegeren'; Colby College).
- His Supper at Emmaus was bought as a Vermeer by Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam in 1937 (Wikipedia; Colby College).
- During the war another of his forgeries went to Hermann Göring, in exchange for 137 looted paintings (Wikipedia; Colby College).
- Arrested for collaboration in 1945, he confessed to forgery and painted a new 'Vermeer' under supervision to prove it (Wikipedia; Colby College).
- He was convicted of forgery and fraud in November 1947 and sentenced to one year, but died that December before serving it (Wikipedia; Colby College).
Spotted a mistake? Tell us in the YouTube comments and we'll correct it.