 Noortman suffered from osteoarthritis and cancer, but died because of a myocardial infarction on 14 January 2007 in Kuttekoven, two days after he received an award from the city of Maastricht for his positive influence on Maastricht and its area.Earlier in his life he already won the title of "Honorary Liveryman of the City of London" and the " Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" in France.Shortly after his death Noortman was accused of art theft, willful destruction of artworks and insurance fraud.