The Netherlands has announced plans to return a 3,500-year-old sculpture to Egypt. The stone head, believed to be from the time of the pharaohs, is thought to have been plundered during the Arab Spring, likely in 2011 or 2012, according to the Dutch Information & Heritage Inspectorate. After resurfacing at an arts and antiques fair in Maastricht a decade later, Dutch authorities, acting on an anonymous tip-off, determined that the sculpture had been stolen and illegally exported.
This commitment to return the artifact was made by Dutch outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof during his attendance at the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The government emphasized that the sculpture, representing a high-ranking official from the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III, holds significant cultural importance for Egypt. Prior to its return, the sculpture was offered for sale at The European Fine Art Foundation fair in 2022, at which point the dealer opted to relinquish it after being informed about its dubious origins.
The Dutch government plans to complete the handover to the Egyptian ambassador to the Netherlands by the end of the year. It has reiterated its commitment, both nationally and internationally, to support the return of heritage items to their original owners.
This development coincides with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which showcases Egypt’s archaeological heritage and has been in planning since 1992. The construction of the museum faced interruptions due to the Arab Spring. With a budget of approximately $1.2 billion, the museum houses around 100,000 artifacts, including those from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Egyptologists are hopeful that the museum’s debut will renew calls for the repatriation of significant antiquities held in other nations, such as the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnve21y7lreo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss