News item | 19-02-2025 | 00:05
At the request of Nigeria 113, the Netherlands returns ‘Benin Bronzen’ from the National Collection. Minister Eppo Bruins (OCW) has decided to return. In 1897, British soldiers robbed these objects from the Kingdom of Benin (in present -day Nigeria) and sold, to eventually end up in Dutch government collection. The ‘Benin Bronzen’ are of great importance for Nigerian society, these objects are an important source of the history of the Kingdom of Benin. The objects include placards, hangers and figures, and are currently in the collection of the World Museum. There is intensive collaboration for this return between experts and representatives from both countries.
Minister Bruins: “With this refund we contribute to the restoration of a historical injustice that is still being felt. Heritage is essential for telling and experiencing the history of a country and community. The Benin Bronzen are therefore indispensable for Nigeria, it’s good that they go back. “
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 19 February in the Wereldmuseum Leiden.
Director-General Holloway: “The return from the Netherlands will be the biggest return of Antiquities of the Kingdom of Benin who is directly related to the British penalty expedition of 1897. We thank the Netherlands for the cooperation and hope that this is a good example in the field of the return of lost or stolen antiquities will be for other countries worldwide. ”
The return follows the advice of the Colonial Collections Committee under the chairmanship of Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You. The objects are returned to the Nigerian government, which will continue to decide on how and where the objects are exhibited. The Wereldmuseum hopes that this return is not the end of a process, but the start of further museum cooperation between Nigeria and the Netherlands.
Refund of the municipality of Rotterdam
In addition to the return of 113 objects from the National Collection, on 19 February the municipality of Rotterdam will also return six objects to Nigeria that fall under the Benin Bronzen collection. These objects were also robbed in 1897. This is a bell, three relief plates, a coconut holder and a staff.
Alderman Said Kasmi (Rotterdam): “Art and heritage should be there where they belong. These objects belong in Nigeria. With this return we are taking an important step in recognizing the past and respecting the value that these objects represent for Nigeria. ”
Advice from the Colonial Collections Committee
The Colonial Collections Committee advised the minister and the municipality of Rotterdam to return these objects based on origin research from the World Museum, in accordance with the policy of colonial collections. This advice was created in close dialogue and cooperation with the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The committee has published its advice on its website. This is the fifth time that the Netherlands has a refund based on the committee’s advice. The committee is currently working on advice on requests from Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia.