Fact Check: Dutch Government Vows to Return Artifacts That Don't Belong to Them
What We Know
The Dutch government has committed to returning cultural artifacts that were wrongfully taken during the colonial period. Recently, on September 20, 2024, the Netherlands announced the return of 288 objects from the Dutch State Collection to Indonesia, which were acquired under duress or through looting (source). This decision was made by Minister of Education, Culture and Science Eppo Bruins, following the recommendations of the Colonial Collections Committee, which is chaired by Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You. The artifacts include significant items such as Hindu-Buddhist sculptures and various objects from the Puputan Badung Collection, which were taken after a conflict in Bali in 1906 (source).
This is not an isolated incident; in July 2023, the Netherlands returned 478 objects to both Indonesia and Sri Lanka, further demonstrating a commitment to addressing the historical injustices of colonialism (source). The artifacts returned in 2023 included the Lombok treasure and other culturally significant items, marking a significant step in the ongoing dialogue about the restitution of cultural heritage (source).
Analysis
The Dutch government's actions reflect a broader trend among former colonial powers to acknowledge and rectify historical wrongs related to cultural artifacts. The decision to return these items is based on thorough provenance research conducted by the Wereldmuseum in collaboration with Indonesian experts and the Indonesian Repatriation Committee (source). Minister Bruins emphasized the importance of these returns for "material redress," recognizing that many cultural objects were taken involuntarily during the colonial era (source).
The reliability of the sources reporting on this issue is high, as they include official government announcements and reputable news agencies. For instance, the AP News and AP News articles corroborate the details of the returns, highlighting the collaborative efforts between the Netherlands and Indonesia. The involvement of the Colonial Collections Committee, which has a clear mandate to address these issues, adds credibility to the claims regarding the returns.
However, while the returns are a positive step, they also highlight ongoing debates about the ethics of cultural restitution. Critics argue that the process is often slow and insufficient, and that many artifacts remain in Western institutions despite similar claims of rightful ownership (source). Nevertheless, the actions taken by the Dutch government indicate a significant shift towards acknowledging and addressing these historical grievances.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the Dutch government vows to return artifacts that do not belong to them is accurate. The recent decisions to return cultural artifacts to Indonesia, based on recommendations from the Colonial Collections Committee, demonstrate a commitment to rectifying historical injustices associated with colonialism. The ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the Netherlands and Indonesia further support this claim.
Sources
- For second time cultural artefacts to be returned to Indonesia
- Colonial collections to be returned to Indonesia and Sri Lanka
- Indonesia welcomes return of jewels, temple carvings as important step
- Indonesia showcases returned artifacts it had sought for
- Dutch museums will return art and artifacts that were looted from Sri Lanka
