The Netherlands has announced it will repatriate a 3,500-year-old Egyptian sculpture to Egypt, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof revealed during a visit to Cairo, where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi.
The artifact, which appears to depict a senior official from the reign of Thutmose III (1479 – 1425 BC), was discovered at an art fair in Maastricht in 2022 after an anonymous tip raised concerns about its origin.
Dutch authorities say that an investigation by the police and the Cultural Heritage Inspectorate (Inspectie Overheidsinformatie en Erfgoed) found that the sculpture had likely been looted during the Arab Spring unrest of 2011 and exported illegally before being offered on the international art market.
The dealer in possession of the piece surrendered it voluntarily at the conclusion of the inquiry. The Dutch government expects to hand over the artifact to Egypt’s ambassador in the Netherlands later this year, though no firm date has yet been set.
The sculpture’s return comes amid growing international efforts to address the illegal trade of antiquities and to restore culturally significant objects to their countries of origin. Experts say this case may set a precedent for future restitution of ancient artifacts.
The Maastricht art fair where the sculpture appeared is the annual European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF), among the world’s top venues for classical and antiquities markets, highlighting how high-profile such looted works can surface in legitimate channels.
Egyptian officials welcomed the decision, describing the sculpture as a valuable part of their cultural heritage and saying its return will help fill gaps in their ancient past. According to Egypt’s antiquities ministry, thousands of artifacts have been lost or trafficked since the early 20th century.
The Dutch-Egyptian agreement also underscores diplomatic ties between the two countries, which were reinforced during Schoof’s visit, which coincided with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, a major cultural landmark near Cairo. For readers interested in the full details of the discovery, investigation, and international legal context behind the sculpture’s restitution, click the link below.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
