288 Cultural Heritage Objects from Indonesia Finally Return from the Netherlands
JAKARTA – A total of 288 cultural heritage objects from Indonesia will soon return to the homeland from the Netherlands, following a repatriation agreement signed on September 20, 2024, at the Wereldmuseum, Amsterdam, at 15:00 CET. The signing was conducted by Hilmar Farid, Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, along with Eppo Bruins, Minister of Education, Culture, and Science of the Netherlands.
The event was also attended by several important representatives, such as the Chair of the Repatriation Committee for Indonesian Collections in the Netherlands, I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, and Bonnie Triyana as Secretary. Also present were Lilian Goncalves, Chair of the Dutch Repatriation Commission, the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mayerfas, and officials from the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague.
Hilmar Farid explained that Indonesia has prepared various special programs as part of this repatriation commitment. These cultural heritage objects will not only be exhibited but will also undergo conservation and ongoing research processes.
"We are preparing educational programs and interactive activities to educate the public about the historical and cultural values of these artifacts," said Hilmar.
The 288 cultural heritage objects are scheduled to arrive in Indonesia in early October 2024. Upon arrival, these artifacts will be managed by the Museum and Cultural Heritage or Indonesia Heritage Agency. The first exhibition of this collection will be held during the reopening of the National Museum of Indonesia on October 15, 2024.
This exhibition provides an opportunity for the public to see firsthand the historical artifacts that have been successfully repatriated from the Netherlands. Hilmar Farid added that this exhibition will serve as a learning and appreciation platform for Indonesia's hard work in restoring its cultural heritage.
"This is an opportunity to learn and appreciate Indonesia's struggle in recovering our cultural heritage," he explained.
Continued Repatriation from 2023
The 2024 repatriation agreement is a continuation of the repatriation that took place in 2023, where 472 cultural heritage objects from Indonesia were returned, including four statues from the Singosari Temple, a kris from the Klungkung Kingdom, treasures from Lombok, and the Pita Maha collection.
During the first repatriation process, the Repatriation Committee conducted an in-depth study to compile a list of other cultural heritage objects from Indonesia still in the Netherlands. From this study, 288 cultural heritage objects were selected to be part of this second repatriation. These objects are scheduled to arrive in Indonesia in early October 2024.
Among the artifacts to be repatriated are the statue of Ganesha, the statue of Brahma, two statues from the Singosari Temple, and 284 collections from Puputan Badung. Specifically for the collection of statues from the Singosari Temple, there are statues of Nandi and Bhairawa dating back to the 13th century. These two statues complement the Singhasari collection that was repatriated in 2023, which includes Ganesha, Mahakala, Durga Mahisasuramardini, and Nandiswara.
The statues from the Singhasari period are known for their distinctive large size with fine carvings that follow iconographic principles, representing the excellence of Nusantara sculpture art.
Meanwhile, the Puputan Badung collection being repatriated consists of various jewelry and door leaves from Puri Tabanan. These items were taken to the Netherlands following the attack in Badung and Tabanan in 1906.
The 2024 repatriation is part of the cultural cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands, which was agreed upon through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2017. In addition to repatriating cultural heritage objects, this cooperation also aims to encourage further research on Nusantara civilization.[*]