Dutch King's Colonial Collection Contains Illegally Acquired Objects

An investigation into the Dutch royal family's private collections has found that some colonial objects were likely acquired illegally. The commission, established three years ago by the Foundation of the Royal Private Collections, examined around 1,000 objects and presented its report at the palace in The Hague. Most items were gifts, but several dozen were taken as war booty or obtained involuntarily. Notable contested pieces include a golden amulet chain from Indonesia, a historic Indonesian handgun (a 'thunder gun') seized from ruler Raden Intan during an 1856 expedition, and a shield from the Prince of Samalanga taken in an 1877 expedition. Both expeditions occurred in present-day Indonesia, then the Dutch East Indies colony. The objects date from 1840 to 1949, with older colonial items not preserved. The collection also includes objects from Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean islands. Queen Máxima, chair of the foundation, welcomed the findings, stating that careful handling of colonial collection objects is essential. The disputed objects will be digitized and made accessible, after which potential restitution will be negotiated with representatives of the countries of origin.