Indonesia Repatriates 3 Artefacts from the Netherlands, Including Teuku Umar's Property

The Indonesian government has welcomed the return of two historical artefacts from the Netherlands, namely a 13th-century Shiva statue from East Java and a 15th-century Damalung inscription from Central Java. In addition, Teuku Umar’s Quran will soon follow as part of the repatriation of cultural heritage taken during the colonial era.

This repatriation is the result of an agreement between the Repatriation Team of the Ministry of Culture and the Dutch Colonial Collections Committee, which was finalised in a meeting between Culture Minister Fadli Zon and the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, Eppo Bruins, at the end of March 2026 in The Hague, Netherlands.

The return agreement was signed on 31 March 2026 in The Hague by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Laurentius Amrih Jinangkung, along with the Director General of Culture and Media of the Netherlands, Youssef Louakili. The two artefacts were previously part of the collections at the Wereldmuseum Amsterdam and Wereldmuseum Leiden.

Fadli emphasised that this return is an important step in efforts to restore historical justice as well as strengthen national cultural identity.

“This return is not merely the transfer of artefacts, but the restoration of collective memory and national dignity, as well as a concrete step towards historical reconciliation,” said Fadli in a written statement on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

This return continues the positive trend of Indonesia-Netherlands cooperation in the cultural field, including the successful repatriation of the Java Man fossil in 2025 after more than a century in the Netherlands.

Research on the Damalung inscription also highlights the importance of international research collaboration in uncovering the historical value and cultural context of such artefacts.

Currently, the process of shipping the artefacts to Indonesia is underway, and they are planned to be handed over to the National Museum of Indonesia.

The Indonesian government has reaffirmed its commitment to continue strengthening efforts to track and repatriate cultural heritage abroad, while opening opportunities for international research cooperation and ensuring broader public access for educational and scientific development purposes.