Statue of the god Shiva from the 13th century
Indoensia claimed this 123 cm high statue from the Wereldmuseum Amsterdam in September 2023. It from the 13th century and originates from Candi Kidal, a temple near Malang in East Java. The metadata associated with the object should be placed at the disposal of the Republic of Indonesia.
(l) Indonesian Ambassador Amrih Jinangkung, (r) Dutch DG Culture Youssef Louakili
Stone with an inscription, known as the Prasasti Damalung
Indonesia submitted this claim in September 2023.
The stone is an inscribed stone made of trachyte. It is rectangular, with the two top corners cut off at an angle of roughly 45 degrees. The stone bears an inscription engraved within a double-bordered square.
The stone is referred to as Prasasti Damalung or Prasasti Ngaduman. Prasasti means inscription. The names Damalung and Ngaduman both refer to the find-spot on the northern slope of the Merbabu volcano. Damalung is a designation for Mount Merbabu and Ngaduman refers to a village close to the find-spot. Nowadays this is located in the sub-district of Getasan in the Central Java kabupaten of
Semarang (Semarang Regency).
The inscription mentions the year 1371 Saka (1449/1450 AD)
Quran Teuku Umar – Courtesy Wereldmuseum Rotterdam
Courtesy Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
Quran from the collection of the municipal Wereldmuseum Rotterdam
Indonesia submitted this claim in 2022.
During looting in the house of the Aceh resistance leader Teuku Umar (1854-1899), the Koran was captured by Dutch soldiers. The provenance research shows that an attack took place on the Acehnese resistance leader Teuku Umar at Lampisang from 23 to 25 May 1896. During the attack his home was looted and destroyed by KNIL soldiers, who then set the house alight.14 Colonial sources speak of at least four qur’ans being looted from the house in May 1896.
All three objects will go to the Museum Nasional Indonesia in Jakarta.
Together with the ambassador of Indonesia, Laurentius Amrih Jinangkung, Director-General of Culture and Media Youssef Louakili signed the transfer this afternoon.
With this fourth restitution to Indonesia, the Netherlands is further implementing its restitution policy for colonial collections. In September 2025, former minister Gouke Moes decided to return the Dubois collection from Naturalis Biodiversity Center. In December 2025, the first four important masterpieces, including a skull cap, were returned to Indonesia. Work is currently underway on the further transfer of this extensive collection.
