Netherlands To Return 119 ‘Stolen’ Benin Bronzes

Following the request by the Nigerian Government, The Netherlands has agreed to return 119 stolen Benin Bronzes during the 1897 British punitive expedition back to the country.

The transfer agreements were signed in Wereldmuseum, Leiden, the Netherlands on Wednesday February 19, 25 by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Eppo Bruins, and the Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mr. Olugbile Holloway.

A statement by The Netherlands Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, said the objects are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year.

It further added that the restitution underscores the strong partnership between The Netherlands and Nigeria.

The Dutch government’s decision follows the recommendation of an independent expert committee, and is in line with the Dutch policy on the restitution of objects from a colonial context.

Out of the 119 objects being returned to Nigeria, 113 of them were part of the Dutch State Collection, while the remaining six were given back by the Municipality of Rotterdam.

“The Netherlands is returning the Benin Bronzes unconditionally, recognising that the objects were looted during the British attack on Benin City in 1897, and should have never ended up in the Netherlands,” the statement said.

It stressed that, “The Netherlands and Nigeria are working closely together to realise this historic restitution.”

Mr. Bruins emphasised that, “This restitution contributes to redressing a historical injustice that is still being felt today. Cultural heritage is essential for telling and living the history of a country and a community. The Benin Bronzes are indispensable to Nigeria. It is good that they are going back.”

Ambassador-designate of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. Bengt van Loosdrecht congratulated Nigeria for being at the forefront of efforts to reclaim colonial looted art.

“For over fifty years, Nigeria has advocated for the return of the Benin Bronzes. This restitution is a testament to the enduring strength of our partnership with Nigeria,” he said.

For his part, the NCMM Director-General highlighted the significance of the return. “The return of 119 objects from the Netherlands will represent the single largest return of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British punitive expedition.

“We thank the Netherlands for their cooperation and hope this will set a good example for other nations of the world in terms of repatriation of lost or looted antiquities,” Holloway said.

The signing ceremony took place at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, the Netherlands, where the Benin Bronzes were previously displayed.

The Dutch museum expressed its willingness to continue working with Nigeria, saying, “We find it valuable that the objects are returning to Nigeria. We hope that this return is not the end of a process, but the start of further cooperation between museums in Nigeria and the Netherlands.”

Other high profile personalities at the event include the Legal Director of NCMM, Mr. Babatunde Adebiyi and Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in the Netherlands, Mrs. Nnenne Ebere Ebekaku.