Netherlands returns Dubois collection to Indonesia

The Netherlands is transferring over 28,000 fossils from the Dubois collection at the request of Indonesia. Today, Minister Moes (Education, Culture and Science) handed over a letter to Indonesian Minister Fadli Zon (Culture) announcing this decision. The collection is now managed by Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden.

Minister Gouke Moes has decided on the return based on the advice of the independent Colonial Collections Committee. This collection is an important resource in the study of human evolution. Important pieces from the Dubois collection include a skull cap, a molar and a femur attributed to Homo erectus, a humanoid that is a link between the ape and man.

Minister Gouke Moes: "The Commission's opinion is based on extensive and careful research. We will work with Naturalis and the Indonesian partners with the same care to ensure the transfer is done properly. Indonesia and the Netherlands consider it important that scientific research continues with this collection.''

Marcel Beukeboom, managing director Naturalis: "The sound advice has provided new legal insights, making restitution the right choice. We look forward to continuing our research cooperation with Indonesian scientists unabated."

Unconditional restitution

The fossils were excavated in Indonesia in the late 19th century by Dutch scientist Eugène Dubois. The Colonial Collections Committee ruled that the research shows that the Dubois collection never became the property of the Netherlands.

In addition, the Commission considers that the circumstances under which the fossils were obtained make it plausible that they were removed against the will of the population and the population was wronged as a result. Fossils were of spiritual and economic significance to the local population, and coercion was used to designate deposits.

The Commission therefore recommends unconditional restitution of the Dubois collection to Indonesia. This is the sixth time the Netherlands has made a return based on the Commission's opinions.

Great scientific value

The Dubois collection is of great value for scientific research. Naturalis Biodiversity Centre and Indonesian scientists have worked intensively together in research on the Dubois collection for decades. This return is a new chapter in the history of the collection and another step in the strong cultural and scientific cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands.