The work, titled All The Good Times We Spent Together, was created by French artist Alexandre Lavet in 1988 and shows two dented beer cans on the floor.

It was on display inside the lift at the LAM museum in the town of Lisse, around 25km (15 miles) outside of Amsterdam.

"However, a closer look reveals that these dented cans were meticulously hand-painted with acrylics," a statement from the museum said.

A search got under way after a curator at the museum spotted the artwork was missing.

Eventually, it was discovered that a lift technician thought the cans were left by visitors, and threw them in a bin.

"Miraculously, both cans were found intact," the museum said.

The cans were cleaned and placed at the museum's entrance.

The museum says it "bears no ill will towards the lift technician who made the mistake". The person in question was covering for the regular technician who is "well acquainted with the building and its exhibits", it said.

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"He was just doing his job in good faith," said Sietske van Zanten, the museum's director. "In a way, it's a testament to the effectiveness of Alexandre Lavet's art.

"The theme of our collection is food and consumption.

"Our art encourages visitors to see everyday objects in a new light. By displaying artworks in unexpected places, we amplify this experience and keep visitors on their toes."

She added: "For the artist, the cans symbolise cherished memories shared with dear friends.

"While evenings spent enjoying drinks may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, they ultimately embody precious moments of connection."