Netherlands to Return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, Emphasising Collaboration Over Reparations
posted 19th February 2025
Netherlands to Return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, Emphasising Collaboration Over Reparations
The Netherlands has announced plans to return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking one of the most significant repatriations of looted artefacts in history. However, Dutch officials have clarified that their focus is on collaboration rather than reparations.
Michel Deelen, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, stated that while the Netherlands is committed to returning these historically significant objects, the Nigerian government will determine when and how the artefacts will be repatriated. He further emphasised the importance of cooperation between museums from both nations, particularly in areas such as management, operation, and staff training.
The Benin Bronzes, which include figurines, tusks, sculptures of Benin rulers, and an ivory mask, were among thousands of artefacts looted by British troops in 1897 during the violent destruction of Benin City in present-day Edo State, Nigeria. Many of these treasures were subsequently sold, ending up in private collections and museums worldwide, including the Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands, where they have been displayed for decades.
The Director-General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, hailed the upcoming return as "the largest repatriation of Benin antiquities." A formal transfer agreement is set to be signed on Wednesday, a move Holloway hopes will serve as a precedent for other institutions still holding looted African artefacts.
In 2022, Germany returned over 20 Benin Bronzes, acknowledging its role in colonial injustices. Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science, Eppo Bruins, echoed this sentiment, stating: "With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today."
The sculptures, renowned for their beauty and intricate craftsmanship, hold deep spiritual and historical significance for the descendants of the ancient Benin Kingdom. Their looting remains a painful reminder of colonial violence, and Nigeria has formally requested their return from museums worldwide.
This move is expected to increase pressure on other institutions, particularly the British Museum, which houses over 900 Benin Bronzes. While protests and campaigns have called for their return, British law currently prevents the museum from repatriating them.
Looking ahead, Nigeria plans to house the artefacts in the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City, scheduled to open in 2026. Designed by British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, the museum aims to host the largest collection of Benin Bronzes ever assembled, providing a homecoming for these treasured pieces of history.
