European Countries Return Colonial Artifacts Home

Museums and galleries across Europe house vast collections of treasures and objects from around the world. Essentially, European museums are overflowing with looted artifacts from their colonial history. Now countries are beginning to return what does not rightfully belong to them.

Iconic artifacts help former empires generate tourism revenue year after year. From the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum to Benin bronzes in numerous collections across Europe and the USA, these precious and valuable items have found a permanent place in museum institutions throughout Europe.

But how did these valuable and priceless items end up in the permanent collections of European museums in the first place?

Certainly, many of our ancestors engaged in wars, and these artifacts were part of treaties, agreements, and sometimes even gifts. However, in many cases, they were acquired through cunning circumstances of conquest, colonialism, and violence. Essentially, they were stolen.

Now the host countries of these artifacts are requesting their return. Many European countries have started the repatriation process, returning looted objects to their countries of origin.

Recently, the Netherlands returned 484 valuable artifacts they had taken from their former Asian colonies, such as Indonesia and Sri Lanka. This included metals and jewel-encrusted objects on a highly decorated cannon, which was looted by troops during the siege of Kandy in 1765, nearly 260 years ago.

In April of this year, France unveiled its long-awaited policy on the restitution of cultural treasures. This documented process aims to officially return historical and valuable items that were looted from former colonies and during Nazi rule. According to the report, there are currently over 90,000 objects solely belonging to Africa still on display in French museums.

In December of last year, Germany returned a set of 22 artifacts from the famous Benin bronzes, which were looted in the 19th century, to Nigeria. It was returned by Germany along with over 1,000 other precious items.

In February 2022, Belgium also handed over a list of 84,000 artifacts to the Democratic Republic of Congo and pledged €2 million in funding for the restitution program over the next four years.

In November of last year, the United Kingdom returned certain objects, including two Benin bronze medals from the Horniman Museum in London, to Nigeria. However, there is still a long road ahead, considering that the UK holds many looted items in the British Museum.