 Since 1937, when the Nazis confiscated his paintings in Germany, more than 40 of van Gogh's works have been stolen, in at least 15 separate incidents, at galleries across the world.In December 2002, two paintings were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, in a brutal and audacious robbery by experienced, professional thieves.Both of the stolen works were considered important - "Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather" (1882) was van Gogh's first work in oil and "Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen" was painted by van Gogh for his mother and later adjusted after the death of his father.