Netherlands and Indonesia sign major cultural repatriation agreements

The Netherlands and Indonesia have signed agreements for the repatriation of significant cultural and scientific collections. Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Dutch Minister Rianne Letschert finalized the transfer of 30,190 items from the Eugène Dubois Collection, alongside 20 historical cultural objects.

The Dubois Collection, which includes Homo erectus fossils such as skull fragments, teeth, and thigh bones, is described by Minister Zon as one of the most significant repatriations in history due to its immense scientific and paleoanthropological value. The 20 cultural objects include a diamond from Banjarmasin, a handwritten Quran, and several tombstones.

These items, many of which were acquired during the colonial era through “involuntary deprivation of property,” were held in institutions such as the Wereldmuseum and the Rijksmuseum. The repatriation process is viewed as a step toward restoring historical justice and cultural sovereignty for Indonesia.