The Netherlands has announced plans to return more than 28,000 fossils from the Dubois collection to Indonesia, following a formal request by Indonesian authorities. The collection, currently held at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, includes key fossils such as a skullcap, a molar, and a femur attributed to Homo erectus, an important species in human evolutionary history. The decision was presented by Gouke Moes, Minister of Education, Culture and Science, to Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon, following recommendations from the independent Colonial Collections Committee. The return aims to ensure that the collection continues to serve as a resource for scientific research while addressing historical injustices.
Minister Moes emphasized that the advice from the Committee was based on extensive research and that the transfer will be conducted carefully in collaboration with Naturalis and Indonesian partners. Marcel Beukeboom, Director General of Naturalis, noted that the decision also reflects new legal insights affirming restitution as the appropriate course, and expressed commitment to continuing collaborative research with Indonesian scientists.
The Colonial Collections Committee concluded that the Dutch state never legally owned the Dubois collection and that the fossils were likely removed against the will of local communities, who were coerced into revealing fossil sites. The fossils held spiritual and economic significance for these communities, making their removal an act of historical injustice. Based on these findings, the Committee recommended the unconditional return of the collection, marking the sixth instance of such restitution advised by the Committee.
Beyond its cultural importance, the Dubois collection holds tremendous scientific value. The return strengthens the longstanding research partnership between Naturalis and Indonesian scientists, allowing collaborative studies on human evolution to continue. This transfer represents a significant step in both cultural restitution and the ongoing scientific collaboration between Indonesia and the Netherlands.
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