The Netherlands has confirmed it will return 119 Benin bronzes to Nigeria on June 21, 2025. The Dutch Embassy in Nigeria shared the update and added that a formal handover event will take place at the National Museum in Lagos.
An embassy official said, “The handover ceremony is scheduled for June 21 at the National Museum in Lagos.”
This marks the largest single return of Benin artefacts to Nigeria by any country. The bronzes will be moved to their original home, the National Museum in Benin City, Edo State, after the ceremony.
Looted Bronzes to Go Home After 128 Years
The artefacts were taken during a British military raid on Benin City in 1897. British forces looted thousands of royal artworks, including plaques, statues, and ceremonial objects, from the ancient Benin Kingdom.
These pieces ended up in museums and private collections across Europe and the United States.
The Dutch collection includes intricately carved ivory tusks, bronze plaques, and ancestral heads. Most of the 119 artefacts had been displayed or stored in Dutch museums for decades.
Earlier in February, the Netherlands’ ambassador-designate, Bengt van Loosdrech, commented on the importance of returning the artefacts.
“These items should never have ended up in the Netherlands,” he said. He added that Nigeria had been requesting their return for over 50 years.
A Growing Global Movement for Repatriation
This handover is part of a wider trend among European countries to return stolen African artefacts. Germany, the United Kingdom, and France have all made commitments or returned some Benin artefacts.
Many of the returned bronzes are intended to be housed at the planned Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) in Benin City. The museum is under development and will serve as a major cultural center to preserve and display Nigeria’s heritage.
The Nigerian government and cultural institutions have praised the Dutch decision. Cultural experts say the return strengthens diplomatic ties and restores a part of Nigeria’s identity.
For collectors or history enthusiasts, this African tribal wall art canvas offers a stylish connection to West African heritage.
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