Netherlands Agrees to Return Stolen Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The Netherlands has announced its intention to return over 100 Benin Bronzes that were looted by British troops from Nigeria in the late 19th century. These culturally significant sculptures and carvings, which include figurines, tusks, rulers’ statues, and an ivory mask, date back between the 15th and 19th centuries. Currently housed at museums like the Wereldmuseum in The Netherlands for decades.

This repatriation of artifacts is described as “the largest return of Benin antiquities,” according to Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science Eppo Bruins has stated that this action contributes to redressing a historical injustice felt even today.

The treasures were stolen during the violent destruction of Benin City in modern-day Nigeria’s Edo state in 1897. Some ended up with private collectors while others found their way into museums across Europe, including Wereldmuseum in The Netherlands. A transfer agreement is set to be signed on Wednesday.

Holloway expressed hope that this return would serve as a positive example for other countries grappling with the issue of returning looted artifacts from colonial times. Germany was the first country to lead the way by repatriating over 20 Benin Bronzes in an effort to address its “dark colonial history.”

The sculptures, renowned for their beauty and technical artistry, hold significant spiritual and historical value for people from that part of Nigeria. Their theft continues to be a source of pain for descendants of those who were part of the ancient Benin kingdom.

This move may increase pressure on other institutions, such as the British Museum which houses over 900 Benin Bronzes, to return these artifacts. However, due to an act of parliament that prevents repatriation from happening at the museum in London, protests and demonstrations outside it continue for their return.

Nigeria plans to open a new Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City in 2026, designed by British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye. It aims to house one of the largest collections of Benin Bronzes ever assembled.