JAKARTA - The Indonesian government welcomes the return of two historical artifacts from the Netherlands, namely the 13th century Shiva Statue from East Java and the 15th century Damalung Inscription from Central Java. After that, the Quran belonging to Teuku Umar will also follow to be repatriated to the country.
This repatriation is part of the effort to repatriate cultural heritage taken during the colonial period. The agreement was reached between the Ministry of Culture's Repatriation Team and the Dutch Colonial Collection Committee, then finalized in a meeting between Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, Gauke Moes, in The Hague, Netherlands, at the end of 2026.
The return agreement was then signed on March 31, 2026 in The Hague by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Laurentius Amrih Jinangkung, and the Director General of Dutch Culture and Media, Youssef Louakili. The two artifacts were previously part of the collection of the Amsterdam Wereldmuseum and the Leiden Wereldmuseum.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized that the return has an important meaning for Indonesia, not only in terms of historical objects, but also in the context of restoring the traces of the nation's past.
"This return is not merely a transfer of artifacts, but a restoration of collective memory and national dignity, as well as a tangible step towards historical reconciliation," Fadli said in a statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 8.
This repatriation continues the positive trend of Indonesian-Dutch cooperation in the field of culture, including the successful repatriation of the Java Man fossil in 2025 after more than a century in the Netherlands. The search for the Damalung Inscription also shows the importance of international research collaboration.
Currently, the process of sending artifacts is underway to Indonesia and is planned to be handed over to the Indonesian National Museum. The government also emphasized that it would continue to strengthen the tracking and repatriation of cultural heritage abroad, as well as opening international research cooperation and expanding public access for education and science.
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