Published: June 23, 2025, 12:59 PM
In a historic gesture, the Netherlands has returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria - marking one of the most significant repatriations of cultural artefacts to the country since the infamous looting of the Benin Royal Palace in 1897.
Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of Nigeria`s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, expressed joy at the return. “It gives us great pride to welcome back these 119 Benin Bronzes. This is the largest physical repatriation of artefacts to Nigeria and the Benin people in over a century,” he stated in a joint release with the Dutch embassy.
Holloway underscored the importance of the event, noting its symbolic weight for Nigeria`s national pride and cultural dignity.
The Benin Bronzes—intricately crafted artworks looted by British forces during a punitive expedition in 1897—have long been at the center of global debates around colonial-era theft and restitution. The military operation that led to their seizure followed the killing of nine British officers in the Kingdom of Benin, now part of southern Nigeria. In response, British troops razed Benin City, killed thousands, and looted its royal treasures.
Many of the stolen artefacts were later sold to museums and collectors in Europe and the U.S. Nigeria has been working for decades to reclaim these pieces, with limited success.
Dutch Ambassador for International Cultural Cooperation, Dewi van de Weerd, praised Nigeria’s unwavering efforts. “We hope this restitution marks the beginning of deeper collaboration between Dutch and Nigerian cultural institutions,” she said.
Of the 119 returned artefacts, 113 belonged to the Dutch State Collection, while six were held by the municipality of Rotterdam. The official handover is scheduled for Saturday.
