Collection objects from Wereldmuseum returned to Indonesia
The Netherlands will return two objects from the Wereldmuseum collection to Indonesia, following advice from the Colonial Collections Committee. The objects are a 13th-century statue of the god Shiva and a stone inscription known as the Prasasti Damalung. Both were taken from Indonesia to the Netherlands in the 19th century without permission. The objects will be transferred to the Museum Nasional Indonesia in Jakarta.
The transfer agreement will be signed on 31 March at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science by the Indonesian Ambassador, Laurentius Amrih Jinangkung, and the Director-General for Culture and Media, Youssef Louakili.
Return by the City of Rotterdam
In addition to the return of the two objects from the National Collection, the City of Rotterdam will return a Qur’an from the collection of Wereldmuseum Rotterdam to Indonesia. The Qur’an was seized by Dutch military forces during the looting of the home of Acehnese resistance leader Teuku Umar (1854-1899).
The Colonial Collections Committee advised the return of these three objects. This advisory report, based on provenance research carried out by the Wereldmuseum, was written in close consultation with Indonesian partners and is in line with the policy on colonial collections.
Contributing to redressing historical injustice
The Netherlands is returning cultural objects that were involuntarily taken during the colonial period. Source countries may submit requests for restitution, which are then assessed by the independent committee. The return of cultural objects from a colonial context contributes to redressing this historical injustice.
With this fourth return to Indonesia, the Netherlands is further implementing its policy on colonial collections. In September 2025, then minister Gouke Moes decided to return the Dubois Collection held by Naturalis Biodiversity Center. In December 2025, the first four major objects, including a skullcap, were returned to Indonesia. The further transfer of this extensive collection is currently underway.