The Netherlands has returned a 3,500-year-old ancient Egyptian sculpture that was illegally removed from the country decades ago, marking the latest restitution of cultural artefacts looted during periods of conflict and colonial-era excavation.
Dutch authorities handed over the artefact, a limestone relief fragment dating back to Egypt’s New Kingdom period, to Egyptian officials during a ceremony in The Hague on Thursday, the Dutch culture ministry said in a statement.
The sculpture, which depicts part of a seated figure believed to be a high-ranking official, was taken from Egypt without permission in the 1970s and later surfaced in a private collection in the Netherlands, according to investigators.
The return followed a joint investigation by Dutch police, prosecutors and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, which confirmed the object had been exported illegally in violation of Egyptian heritage laws.
“This restitution underscores our commitment to correcting historical injustices and respecting the cultural heritage of other nations,” Dutch Culture Minister Eppo Bruins said, adding that the Netherlands would continue to cooperate with countries seeking the return of stolen artefacts.
Egypt’s ambassador to the Netherlands welcomed the move, describing it as “an important step in preserving Egypt’s identity and history,” and said the sculpture would be returned to Cairo for conservation and public display.
Egypt has intensified efforts in recent years to recover thousands of artefacts it says were smuggled abroad, as museums and governments across Europe and North America reassess the provenance of items acquired in the past.
The Netherlands has previously returned artefacts to countries including Indonesia and Sri Lanka, as part of a broader shift toward restitution of cultural property taken during colonial rule.
