A total of 828 Indonesian cultural heritage artefacts that were previously housed in the Netherlands have been successfully repatriated, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to reclaim its historical treasures.
The collection includes a range of valuable historical objects, such as the Puputan Klungkung keris, Singasari statues, and artefacts linked to the Puputan Badung and Tabanan events.
Fadli Zon, Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, described the repatriation as an important step in enriching the nation’s historical narrative and a critical effort to restore Indonesia’s cultural identity, which had been dispersed across various countries.
The artefacts’ return is seen as part of a broader initiative to recover the nation’s cultural heritage.
In the coming two to three weeks, additional waves of repatriated artifacts will arrive in Indonesia, including significant collections from the Volkenkunde Museum in the Netherlands, along with items from several other Dutch museums.
“From our artefacts, from the Netherlands, especially from several museums, including the Volkenkunde Museum, we hope to recover historical objects that belong to our national heroes,” Minister Fadli Zon said in an interview with ANTARA.
He specifically mentioned that the repatriation of key items, such as the keris of Prince Diponegoro, known as the Nogo Siluman kitchen keris, and the keris of Teuku Umar, are priorities for future recovery.
A Total of 828 Artifacts Repatriated
The recent repatriation follows the signing of the Technical Arrangement on Cooperation in Repatriation of Indonesian Historical Cultural Objects in 2023.
As part of this agreement, the first batch of 472 objects was returned in 2023, which included Singasari statues, the Puputan Klungkung keris, Lombok treasures, and Pita Maha artwork.
In 2024, the Handover Documents for an additional 288 objects were signed, marking the second batch of repatriated items.
This collection includes more Singasari statues, as well as artifacts related to the Puputan Wars of Badung and Tabanan. Delivery documents for 84 objects in the first shipment of the second batch were also signed. These include statues of Bhairava, Nandi, Ganesha, and Brahma.
Today’s delivery, comprising 204 objects, represents the last batch of this repatriation effort, with an additional 68 artifacts coming from the Rotterdam Museum.
With this last shipment, the total number of Indonesian cultural heritage objects returned from the Netherlands now stands at 828.
The Return of the Winged Lion Statues from Lombok
One of the most notable highlights of this repatriation batch is the return of two winged lion statues from Lombok. These statues, which had been held in the Netherlands for 130 years, were looted by the Royal Dutch East Indies Army (KNIL) during the Lombok War in 1894.
They were taken from Cakranegara Castle in Lombok and have remained in Dutch collections ever since.
The Indonesian Embassy in The Hague confirmed that the statues had a significant role in the region’s palace architecture, serving a protective function.
“The lion statues from Lombok have a protective function in palace architecture,” the embassy stated in a press release, as quoted by the BBC.
The repatriation of these lion statues is a poignant reminder of the historical injustices experienced by Indonesia during the colonial period, and their return symbolizes a step toward restoring Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
