The Netherlands has announced plans to return more than 100 Benin Bronzes, which were looted by British forces in the late 19th century and later acquired by Dutch museums.
These historic artifacts, including sculptures, ivory masks, and figurines, were taken during the 1897 destruction of Benin City, now part of Nigeria’s Edo State. Many were sold to private collectors or displayed in institutions like the Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands.
Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) described the planned repatriation of 119 artifacts as the largest return of Benin antiquities to date. The pieces, which date from the 15th to 19th centuries, are of deep cultural and historical significance.
A formal transfer agreement is set to be signed, with hopes that this move will encourage other nations to follow suit. In 2022, Germany returned over 20 Benin Bronzes as part of efforts to confront its colonial past.
Dutch officials acknowledged the importance of addressing historical injustices, while campaigners continue to pressure institutions like the British Museum, which holds over 900 Benin artifacts, to return their collections. However, legal barriers currently prevent their repatriation.
Nigeria has issued formal requests for the return of Benin Bronzes worldwide and plans to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in 2026 to house its growing collection of repatriated treasures.
