The Netherlands Returns Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The Netherlands, at the request of Nigeria, is returning 113 Benin Bronzes from the National Collection. Minister Eppo Bruins (OCW) has decided on this restitution. In 1897, British soldiers looted these objects from the Kingdom of Benin (in present-day Nigeria) and sold them, ultimately ending up in the Dutch National Collection. The Benin Bronzes are of great importance to Nigerian society, as these objects are a significant source of the history of the Kingdom of Benin. The objects include plaques, pendants, and figures, and are currently held in the collection of the Wereldmuseum. Intensive collaboration between experts and representatives from both countries has taken place for this restitution.

Minister Bruins: “With this restitution, we contribute to the restoration of a historical injustice that is still felt today. Heritage is essential for telling and experiencing the history of a country and community. The Benin Bronzes are therefore indispensable for Nigeria; it is good that they are returning.”

The signing of the transfer agreement by Minister Bruins and Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments, will take place on February 19 at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden.

Director-General Holloway: “The return from the Netherlands will be the largest restitution of antiquities from the Kingdom of Benin directly related to the British punitive expedition of 1897. We thank the Netherlands for the cooperation and hope that this will set a good example for the restitution of lost or looted antiquities for other countries worldwide.”

This restitution follows the advice of the Colonial Collections Committee chaired by Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You. The objects will be returned to the Nigerian government, which will further decide how and where the objects will be displayed. The Wereldmuseum hopes that this restitution is not the end of a process but the start of further museum collaboration between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

In addition to the return of 113 objects from the National Collection, on February 19, the municipality of Rotterdam will also return 6 objects to Nigeria that fall under the Benin Bronzes collection. These objects were also looted in 1897. They include a bell, 3 relief plaques, a coconut holder, and a staff.

Councilor Said Kasmi (Rotterdam): “Art and heritage belong where they should be. These objects belong in Nigeria. With this restitution, we take an important step in acknowledging the past and respecting the value that these objects represent for Nigeria.”

The Colonial Collections Committee has advised the minister and the municipality of Rotterdam to return these objects based on provenance research from the Wereldmuseum, in accordance with the policy on colonial collections. This advice was developed in close dialogue and collaboration with the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The Committee has published its advice on its website. This is the 5th time that the Netherlands has made a restitution based on the Committees advice. The Committee is currently working on advice regarding requests from Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia.