In response to a request from Indonesia, the Netherlands is returning twenty cultural objects to Indonesia. These objects were wrongfully removed, for example through theft or use of force, and brought to the Netherlands during the colonial period. Eighteen of these objects were kept in the collection of the Wereldmuseum and two at the Rijksmuseum. The Banjarmasin Diamond, a handwritten Quran manuscript and several gravestones are among the returned pieces. Minister of Education, Culture and Science Rianne Letschert has decided to return the artefacts. In doing so, she is following the advice of the Colonial Collections Committee, chaired by Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You. Extensive provenance research has shown that all of the objects were obtained in circumstances involving involuntary loss of possession.
Commenting on the decision, Minister Letschert said: “With this return, based on recommendations from the Colonial Collections Committee, we are contributing to the redress of historical injustice. These artefacts have great cultural and historical value for Indonesia. They should never have been in the Netherlands. We are now righting this wrong.”
Transfer
The official transfer will take place on 9 October at Indonesia House in Amsterdam. During the ceremony, the Indonesian Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, and Minister Rianne Letschert will sign the transfer agreement. The objects will be handed over at a later time.
The following objects will be returned:
- The Banjarmasin Diamond (Rijksmuseum) - A 38-carat cut diamond that was once among the regalia of the Sultan of Banjarmasin.
- Sikin Panjang (Rijksmuseum) – A traditional sword from Aceh.
- Handwritten Quran (Wereldmuseum, Amsterdam) – A handwritten manuscript that belonged to Teuku Umar.
- Four manuscripts of the Sultanate of Aceh (Wereldmuseum, Leiden) – Handwritten texts, including Hikayat Makkah Madinah.
- Six wayang beber scrolls (Wereldmuseum, Leiden) – Javanese ritual scrolls made of beaten tree-bark paper, dating from 1633–1669.
- Panel from a grave (Wereldmuseum, Leiden) – A tomb panel dated to the sixteenth or seventeenth century, likely originating from a royal tomb in Aceh.
- Batu Aceh gravestones (Wereldmuseum, Leiden) – Sandstone gravestones with Arabic calligraphy.
The recommendations of the Colonial Collections Committee are published on the Committee's website: https://commissie.kolonialecollecties.nl
Transfer agreement for the Dubois Collection
In addition to the return of the twenty artefacts, a transfer agreement for the Dubois Collection has also been signed. Former Minister Gouke Moes decided in September 2025 to return this extensive collection, which is located at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Four important objects from this collection have already been transferred to Indonesia. Preparations are underway for the transfer of the remaining objects, which is expected to begin shortly.
Pending requests
The Colonial Collections Committee is currently reviewing other requests from Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The Committee advises the Minister of Education, Culture and Science on requests for the return of cultural goods that were taken during the colonial period. The redress of injustice is the starting point for the return process.