The Netherlands has announced it will return a 3,500-year-old Egyptian sculpture to Egypt, marking another significant step in international efforts to repatriate looted cultural artifacts. Dutch Caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof made the announcement during the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Egypt, according to the Inspectorate of Government Information and Heritage.
The ancient artifact is a sculpted head believed to depict a high-ranking official from the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, who ruled Egypt during the 15th century BC. Dutch officials suspect the precious sculpture was illegally removed from Egypt during the political upheaval of the Arab Spring protests in 2011 or 2012, when widespread civil unrest created opportunities for archaeological looting across the region.
The sculpture's journey to recovery began in 2022 when it was offered for sale at the prestigious Tefaf art fair in Maastricht, Netherlands. Following an anonymous tip to authorities, investigators launched an inquiry into the piece's provenance and quickly determined that it had been illegally exported from Egypt. Upon learning of the investigation's findings, the art dealer voluntarily surrendered the sculpture to Dutch authorities, cooperating with the repatriation process.
During his visit to Egypt for the museum opening, Prime Minister Schoof engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The Dutch leader was joined by the prime ministers of Belgium and Luxembourg at the ceremony, highlighting the international significance of the new museum. Their conversations extended beyond cultural heritage matters to include critical regional issues such as the Gaza peace plan and plans for an international reconstruction conference that the Netherlands will co-host.
Dutch officials indicated that the ancient sculpture could be returned to Egypt before the end of this year, adding to Egypt's growing collection of repatriated artifacts. This return represents part of a broader international movement to restore stolen cultural treasures to their countries of origin, particularly those looted during periods of political instability in the Middle East and North Africa.
