The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology has announced the return of 288 historical artefacts belonging to Indonesia from the Netherlands.
The return is an agenda agreed upon through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries in 2017. Later, the public will be able to see the artefacts in general at the National Museum of Indonesia.
The Director General of Culture, Hilmar Farid, explained that his party has compiled a series of special programs as a commitment to repatriation. The artefacts can be enjoyed, and there will also be a sustainable conservation and research process.
“We will prepare educational programs and interactive activities aimed at educating the public about the historical and cultural value of these artefacts,” Hilmar said, as reported by Antara.
The collection will be exhibited to the public at the National Museum of Indonesia on October 15, providing a unique opportunity for the public to learn about these artefacts’ historical and cultural value.
“This exhibition is not only an opportunity to see firsthand the historical artefacts that have returned to the country but also a place of learning and appreciation for Indonesia’s struggle and hard work in restoring its cultural heritage,” said Hilmar.
The repatriation of the 288 artefacts involved cooperation between the Indonesian government, in this case, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), and the Dutch government.
It also included a provenance study. Provenance studies are intended to examine the source or origin in depth to ensure the authenticity of historical items.
List of 288 repatriated artefacts
The repatriated artefacts are diverse, including those from the Badung Puputan War collection. These were taken during the Dutch intervention in Bali in 1906.
In addition, there are historical statues from Singosari Temple in East Java. This collection includes one Ganesha statue, a Brahma statue, a Bhairawa statue, and a Nandi statue that was previously repatriated in the 2023 repatriation.
