The Netherlands has returned 113 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, centuries after British soldiers looted them from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897. The artefacts had been displayed at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden.
“With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today,” said Dutch Culture Minister Eppo Bruins.
Nigeria’s museum chief, Olugbile Holloway, called it the largest single restitution from the 1897 raid, adding, “We hope this sets a precedent for other countries.”
The move adds pressure on the British Museum, which holds over 900 Benin Bronzes but refuses to return them due to legal restrictions. Germany began repatriating its collection in 2022.
