Since 2021, the Dutch State has been returning objects from colonial areas in the National Collection if a country of origin requests it. But that applies only to items in the national collection. No agreements have been made about municipal collections.
In late June, the Colonial Collections Committee advised the cabinet to return 282 ceremonial weapons, jewellery and utensils. These had come into the possession of the state and Indonesia had requested their return.
The committee had also discovered 66 objects from those collections owned by the municipality of Rotterdam. But the state-level rules for restitution thus did not apply to the port city.
The municipality of Rotterdam has now tied the knot itself: the 66 ceremonial weapons, jewellery, textiles and two nineteenth-century Sinai statues from Lombok will revert to Indonesia’s possession today. In doing so, the port city says it is the first municipality to follow the rules that apply to the state.
From Indonesia, Rodney Westerlaken comments the following:
Rotterdam’s recent decision to return 66 looted objects to Indonesia, while commendable in principle, highlights a critical flaw in the way the Netherlands handles the restitution of colonial-era art. By blindly following the precedent set by the national government, the city has failed to engage with local stakeholders, some of whom are directly identifiable in relation to these objects.
This oversight perpetuates a pattern of exclusion that undermines the very essence of restorative justice. How can we claim to rectify colonial wrongs if the voices of those most affected—local communities and rightful cultural heirs—continue to be ignored?
The return of looted art should not be reduced to bureaucratic processes and symbolic gestures. It requires genuine dialogue, respect for the communities involved, and a commitment to addressing historical injustices in a manner that is both inclusive and equitable.
When will we learn that restitution without consultation only replicates the power imbalances of the past? The Netherlands must do better. It’s time to rethink our approach and centre the voices of those who have been silenced for far too long.
