Netherlands to Return 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in Historic Repatriation

The artifacts, looted during a 19th-century British raid, mark the largest single return of Benin antiquities to date.

The Netherlands has agreed to return 119 artifacts, including 113 Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria following an official agreement signed in The Hague.
These artifacts were looted during the 1897 British military raid on the Kingdom of Benin, now part of modern-day Nigeria’s Edo State.
The return is described as the largest single repatriation of Benin antiquities, which include plaques, royal regalia, and memorial sculptures.
The Dutch government acknowledged the artifacts were unlawfully taken and emphasized the importance of cultural heritage in addressing historical injustices.
Nigeria has been actively reclaiming looted artifacts, with previous returns from museums in the UK and the US, as similar restitution efforts expand globally.