The Netherlands has returned a historical artefact looted from the Benin Kingdom during the 1897 British invasion, presenting it to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in Benin City, Edo State.

The artefact was handed over at the monarch’s palace on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as part of activities marking his 10th coronation anniversary.

The presentation was made by the Netherlands’ Consul General, Frank Keurnorst, alongside Beatrice van Bormann, Executive Director of Museum De Fundatie in the Netherlands.

Return Marks Another Milestone in Restitution Efforts

Chairman of the coronation anniversary committee and former Edo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasue, described the return as a significant development in the kingdom’s longstanding efforts to recover artefacts taken during the British invasion.

Imasue said the Netherlands had initiated the process of returning objects removed from Benin following the 1897 invasion, adding that further restitutions were expected.

He noted that successive Obas had pursued the recovery of the kingdom’s cultural heritage, but the effort gained momentum under Oba Ewuare II, whose diplomatic experience as a former ambassador helped advance engagements with foreign institutions.

According to Imasue, the artefacts provide historical records of the kingdom’s royal traditions and way of life before the invasion.

He also said the Federal Government, through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), recognised the historical connection between the artefacts and the Oba’s palace.

Oba Ewuare II Welcomes Return

Oba Ewuare II expressed appreciation to the Netherlands for returning the historical object after more than a century away from its place of origin.

The monarch also acknowledged the Portuguese Ambassador to Nigeria, Paulo Santos, who attended the anniversary celebration alongside the Dutch delegation.

Ewuare disclosed plans to strengthen cultural and historical relations with Portugal, recalling the country’s historical connections with the Benin Kingdom.

He cited the Holy Aruosa Church in Benin as an example of the cultural and religious influences that emerged from those interactions, explaining that its practices reflect elements of Catholic tradition alongside indigenous beliefs.

Netherlands Previously Returned 119 Benin Bronzes

The latest handover follows the Netherlands’ return of 119 Benin artefacts to Nigeria in June 2025, one of the largest restitutions of cultural objects taken from the kingdom during the colonial era.

The items were originally looted by British forces during the 1897 invasion and subsequently entered Dutch collections.

In February 2025, the Dutch government announced its decision to return 113 objects from the Dutch State Collection at Nigeria’s request. Additional objects from other Dutch collections brought the total returned to 119.

The latest return adds to Nigeria’s continuing efforts to recover cultural treasures taken from the Benin Kingdom and restore objects that document its history, traditions and artistic heritage.