472 Objects Of Indonesian History Brought By The Dutch During The Colonial Period Will Be Returned

Illustration. The 65th Anniversary of the Takeover of PT Semen Padang from the Netherlands is interpreted as holding a ceremony. (ANTARA/HO-SP)

JAKARTA - The Netherlands is ready to return 472 important cultural objects from Indonesia's history to Indonesia. Hundreds of cultural objects were brought unlawfully and obtained by force or looted during the colonial period.

This return is the decision of the State Secretary for Culture and Media Affairs in the Netherlands, Gunay Uslu, after receiving a recommendation from the Advisory Committee for Returning Cultural Objects from the Colonial Period.

"This is a historic moment," said Gunay Uslu in a statement from the Dutch Royal Embassy, Thursday, July 6, which was confiscated by Antara.

Cultural objects returned include the treasure of Lombok, four statues of Singasari, a keris from Klungkung, Bali, and 132 modern art objects from Bali known as the collection of the Maha Band.

These objects are currently a collection of the National Museum of World Culture in Leiden and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The handover of these objects will take place at the National Museum of Ethnology at Leiden on July 10, 2023

"This is the first time we have followed the committee's recommendation to return objects that should never have been brought to the Netherlands," said Gunay Uslu.

Uslu added that he hopes for closer cooperation with Indonesia in various fields, such as research on collections and exchanges of objects between museums.

Indonesia last year requested the return of a number of cultural objects that are very important to the country. The history of these objects was then researched by the National Museum of World Culture, discussing with Indonesian experts.

Based on the results of the study, the committee recommended that these objects be returned to Indonesia.