Netherlands to return 119 looted Benin bronze to Nigeria

The Netherlands government is set to hand over 119 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria this June, marking the largest single repatriation of artefacts to the country in history.l

The Dutch embassy in Nigeria confirmed the return to TheCable on Thursday, June 5, 2025, stating that the bronzes will arrive the week of June 16.

A formal handover ceremony will be held on June 21 at the National Museum in Lagos.

Officials disclosed that the artefacts will later be transferred to their cultural home at the National Museum in Benin City, Edo State.

The artefacts were among thousands looted by British forces during the 1897 punitive expedition that destroyed the Benin Kingdom.

Experts and cultural advocates consider this return a significant victory for Nigeria’s decades-long campaign to reclaim its stolen heritage.

In February 2025, Bengt van Loosdrech, the Dutch ambassador-designate, publicly stated that the artefacts should never have ended up in the Netherlands.

He acknowledged Nigeria’s persistent efforts over more than 50 years to retrieve its cultural treasures.

“The bronzes represent cultural identity and historical memory. Their rightful place is Nigeria,” van Loosdrech said at the time.

While the embassy had earlier declined to specify a delivery date, it has now confirmed the arrival for mid-June 2025.

The bronzes include ceremonial plaques, sculptures, and royal regalia, originally crafted between the 13th and 19th centuries by the Benin people.

They were once housed in the royal palace of the Oba of Benin.

Historians say the 1897 invasion by British colonial troops resulted in the mass looting of thousands of bronze and ivory artefacts, many of which were sold to European and American museums.

This Dutch return follows similar repatriation efforts by Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, reflecting a global movement toward post-colonial restitution of African art.

Cultural stakeholders in Nigeria have praised the move, calling it a step toward healing and justice.

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) said preparations are underway to ensure proper reception and preservation of the artefacts.

“This is more than art. It’s our legacy, our voice, and our story being restored,” an NCMM official told reporters.

Experts say the handover also strengthens cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and the Netherlands and may encourage other Western nations to follow suit.

The Oba of Benin’s palace, traditional rulers, and cultural custodians are expected to attend the June 21 ceremony, along with officials from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

As the 119 artefacts being returned were previously displayed in Dutch museums and private collections.

Their journey home represents a turning point in the global restitution movement and a powerful affirmation of Nigeria’s right to its cultural property.

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