Indonesia Successfully Returns 828 Cultural Heritage Objects From The Netherlands

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon (right) together with the Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Marc Gerritsen (left) after 'Resignation of Handover Documents for Repatriation of Indonesian Cultural Heritage Objects from the Netherlands' which was held in Jakarta. (ANTARA/Adimas Raditya)

JAKARTA - The government, through the Ministry of Culture (Kemenkebud), has succeeded in repatriating as many as 828 artifacts in the form of Indonesian cultural heritage that were previously in the Netherlands.

The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, emphasized that this repatriation step is an important part of efforts to restore the knowledge and understanding of the Indonesian people in their history and culture.

"This repatriation is a very crucial strategic program to complement our knowledge of cultural objects that have been brought to the Netherlands," said Fadli Zon at the "Landing of Indonesian Cultural Heritage Objects Handover Documents from the Netherlands" which took place in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

Fadli explained that the fifth repatriation process will be the closing stage for 2024. At this stage, 272 artifacts were successfully returned, covering 204 artifacts from the Netherlands and 68 others from the Rotterdam Museum.

Various types of artifacts, such as keris, spears, gold jewelry, traditional fabrics, to historical objects of high value, are part of the collection that was repatriated.

According to Fadli, this repatriation is not just a physical return of artifacts, but also an important step to enrich knowledge about cultural heritage that has been scattered in various parts of the world.

The repatriated artifacts also include objects related to major historical events, such as Puputan Badung and Tabanan. Fadli added that each of these artifacts would be important study material for cultural experts to understand its historical context more deeply.

Apart from the Netherlands, Indonesia also received additional collections in the form of six bronze statues previously confiscated by the FBI and returned in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This confirms the international commitment to protect and repatriate long lost cultural heritage.

In the future, the government is committed to making this repatriation program more systematic, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Directorate General of Culture, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation.

"We hope that other countries that hold historical artifacts belonging to Indonesia are also willing to return these objects," said Fadli Zon.

He also emphasized that repatriation is not only about restoring cultural objects, but also provides opportunities for the younger generation to better understand and appreciate the nation's heritage.

The Indonesian government appreciates the close cooperation with the Dutch government, which has allowed the repatriation process to run smoothly.

"This collaboration is an example of positive international relations. Now, our job is to maintain, care for, and make the best use of these artifacts," concluded Fadli Zon.