The Netherlands returns diamond from Rijksmuseum and other objects to Indonesia

The Dutch government has announced the restitution of twenty cultural objects to Indonesia, acknowledging that these items were improperly acquired during the colonial period. Among the returned artifacts are a 36-carat cut diamond, a handwritten Quran, and a traditional sword, all of which were previously held in the Rijksmuseum and other Dutch collections.

The decision to return the objects follows formal recommendations from the Colonial Collections Committee. Government officials have stated that these items should never have been brought to the Netherlands, marking a significant step in addressing historical colonial acquisitions.