Ivo and Max Maselaman, the only family in the Netherlands with roots on the Tanimbar islands, accompany the skulls. Their father was a KNIL soldier during the Indonesian struggle for independence and moved to the Netherlands in the 1950s.
For the diaspora foundation Budaya Kita, which discovered the skulls, and Museum Vrolik, this form of repatriation was unknown territory, said director De Rooy. Organising the transport therefore presented many challenges.
Thanks to the help of the Indonesian embassy, the skulls arrived at Tanimbar on 4 November after a journey of more than 10,000 kilometres.
