Bridging the Past: Dutch Colonial Collections Committee Visits Jakarta

News item | 28-05-2025 | 05:07

Last May, the Netherlands and Indonesia marked an important step in ongoing cooperation between the two countries to return cultural heritage items taken during the colonial period.

An independent Dutch delegation from the Committee for Colonial Collections arrived in Jakarta to meet with Indonesia’s Repatriation Team and the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon. The committee plays a key advisory role to the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, offering recommendations on restitution requests submitted by the Indonesian government.

During their time in Jakarta, both sides engaged in constructive dialogue. They discussed current restitution requests and reviewed available provenance reports, which trace the history and origin of the cultural objects in question.

What stood out throughout the visit was the spirit of cooperation. Both the Dutch and Indonesian teams expressed appreciation for their strong and respectful working relationship—one that continues to grow stronger as they navigate the sensitive yet meaningful process of cultural repatriation.

Before departing, the Dutch Committee expressed heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome they received in Indonesia.

Together, these ongoing efforts reflect a shared commitment to acknowledging history and returning cultural heritage to where it belongs.