THE HAGUE, Netherlands — On Wednesday, the Dutch government announced its decision to return a significant collection of 119 artifacts to Nigeria, continuing a global trend as museums reevaluate their colonial-era collections.
These artifacts, commonly referred to as the Benin Bronzes, are primarily situated in a museum in Leiden. They were taken in the late 1800s by British troops during an incursion into what is now Nigeria. The repatriation request was made by Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
The collection features various items, including representations of human and animal figures, plaques, royal insignia, and a ceremonial bell.
This move aligns with a growing initiative by governments and institutions in Europe and North America to address the complex ownership issues surrounding artifacts that were acquired during colonial times.
Olugible Holloway, the director of the commission, traveled to the Netherlands to formalize the transfer through a signing ceremony at the Museum Volkenkunde. He described this event as a historic moment, labeling it the largest single repatriation of antiques taken from Benin.
“We express our gratitude to the Netherlands for their collaboration and hope this serves as an inspiring example for other nations regarding the repatriation of lost or looted cultural heritage,” Holloway remarked in his statement.
In 2022, Nigeria submitted a formal request for the return of numerous artifacts from institutions worldwide. That year, a total of 72 items were successfully returned by a London museum, while 31 artifacts came back from a museum in Rhode Island.
The Benin Bronzes were seized in 1897 during the British military campaign that led to the fall of the Benin Kingdom, now part of Nigeria.
The decision to return the Dutch collection stemmed from evaluations by a designated committee examining requests for the restitution of artifacts held in state museums. This marks the fifth instance in which Dutch cultural institutions have complied with the committee’s recommendations for returning objects.
Eppo Bruins, the Dutch minister for culture and education, emphasized the importance of cultural heritage, stating, “It is vital for expressing and preserving a country’s history and identity. The Benin Bronzes hold immense significance for Nigeria, and it is heartening to see them returned.”
The committee is currently reviewing requests from Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia for the return of their respective artifacts. Earlier this year, two museums in the Netherlands returned hundreds of cultural items to Indonesia and Sri Lanka, many of which had been acquired historically through coercive means.
