Netherlands to Return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The Netherlands has announced it will return 119 Benin bronzes to Nigeria on June 21, 2025. According to the Dutch Embassy in Abuja, a handover ceremony will take place at the National Museum in Lagos, after which the artefacts will be transferred to the National Museum in Benin City, Edo State’s capital.

These 119 pieces represent the largest single batch of Benin bronzes ever slated for repatriation to Nigeria. They were taken during the 1897 British colonial raid on Benin City and have remained in Dutch collections until now.

In February, Dutch ambassador-designate Bengt van Loosdrech acknowledged that these artefacts “should never have ended up in the Netherlands.” He noted that Nigerians have been requesting their return for more than 50 years, and this June’s repatriation marks a step in addressing that long-standing demand.