Dutch Royal Collection Investigated, Indonesia Pushes for Return of Confiscated Cultural Objects

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has opened new opportunities to repatriate cultural objects from the Netherlands after an independent investigation into the Dutch Royal Collection found a number of colonial objects allegedly obtained illegally or unfairly.

The Ministry of Culture welcomes the publication of the report Conclusion and Recommendations on the Provenance Investigation of Colonial Objects in the Royal Collections of the Netherlands released by the House of Orange-Nassau Historic Collections Trust or SHVON.

The report examines the origins of more than 1,000 colonial-era objects in the Dutch Royal Collection. The results show that most of the objects are said to have come from gifts or donations. However, a number of objects are suspected to be related to war spoils or military actions during the colonial period.

Two prominent objects are firearms belonging to Raden Intan from Keratuan Darah Putih, Lampung, which were taken after the battle against the Dutch army in 1856, as well as the Aceh shield which is suspected to have been obtained in a Dutch military expedition in Samalanga in 1877.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon assessed that the results of this investigation are an important door to discuss the repatriation of Indonesian cultural objects more fairly and openly.

"We welcome the results of this independent investigation as an important step towards transparency and historical justice," Fadli said in a written statement received on Sunday, May 31.

Fadli said Indonesia hopes to immediately talk to the Dutch government about objects in the report that have strong indications of being seized or obtained illegally.

According to Fadli, objects related to Raden Intan and other findings are worth discussing in repatriation cooperation. Repatriation means the return of cultural objects to the country or community of origin.

"Objects in this report are considered to have an illegitimate or unfair existence that should be returned to Indonesia through a mutually agreed repatriation mechanism," said Fadli.

The Ministry of Culture through the Indonesian Repatriation Team will review the report and prepare diplomatic steps. The government will also send official communications to the parties concerned to begin discussions on the return of Indonesian cultural objects.

Fadli is also scheduled to meet the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Indonesia to discuss the follow-up to the results of the investigation and the opportunities for repatriation cooperation.

For Indonesia, this issue is not just about old objects stored in museums or royal collections. Many cultural objects contain traces of power, war, resistance, and the identity of the original community.

"Repatriation is not just the transfer of cultural objects. This is an effort to restore the collective memory of the nation, restore the dignity of history, and ensure that cultural heritage that is meaningful and important to the identity of Indonesia can return to the people who have the right to inherit it," said Fadli.

The government hopes that the results of the independent investigation will become the basis for concrete dialogue between Indonesia and the Netherlands in resolving colonial cultural heritage.