The Ministry of Culture in The Hague has announced that the Netherlands will return a significant number of valuable artworks that were taken during the Dutch colonial era. These treasures-- including jewellery, precious metals, and a beautifully decorated cannon-- were looted from Indonesia and Sri Lanka, former Dutch colonies.
The Dutch state secretary for culture and media, Gunay Uslu, described this as a historic moment, as it signifies the first time they are following the recommendations of a committee to return wrongfully acquired artefacts. Uslu also emphasized that it is not only about returning the objects but also about restoring and strengthening cooperation with Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
The decision to return around 478 objects was made after considering the recommendations of a government-appointed committee tasked with studying the illegal acquisitions made by the Dutch during the colonial era, many of which are currently on display in Dutch museums. Culture Minister Uslu emphasized their commitment to acting upon the recommendations outlined in the 2020 report, which investigated the stolen artefacts.
According to the report, the Netherlands must take responsibility for its colonial past and return looted cultural artefacts to their rightful owners. If requested by the source country, the Netherlands should unconditionally return any artefacts that were looted in former Dutch colonies.
The committee was formed in response to a request from Indonesia to return natural history collections and art pieces taken during the colonial period.
Among the notable items being returned is the "Lombok treasure," looted from the Island of Lombok, Indonesia, in 1894. This treasure comprises precious stones, silver objects, and gold. A portion of this treasure was already returned to Indonesia in 1977.
Another remarkable artefact being returned is the Cannon of Kandy, which will be returned to Sri Lanka. Made of silver, gold, and bronze, and adorned with rubies, this ceremonial weapon is believed to have been looted by the Dutch in 1765. It has been a part of the Rijksmuseum's collection since 1800. A special ceremony is being organized to officially return the looted artefacts to Indonesia.
These efforts by the Netherlands are aimed at acknowledging and rectifying their past actions on a global scale. By fostering relationships with other countries, they demonstrate their commitment to addressing historical wrongs and promoting cultural restitution.