The Dutch government has decided to return the Dubois Collection to Indonesia. This decision was made by the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, Gouke Moes, based on the recommendation of the independent Colonial Collections Committee. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, which currently manages the collection, will cooperate in the restitution.
Collectionfrom Indonesia
The Dubois Collection consists of 28,000 fossils, primarily from Java and Sumatra. Well-known specimens, such as the skullcap, molar, and thigh bones of the species we now call Homo erectus, are part of the collection to be repatriated. With his discovery of a "missing link" between humans and apes, Dubois demonstrated that humans, like other animals, are a product of evolution. His work is thus considered a crucial pillar of science. The fossils were excavated under Dubois's supervision by forced laborers under extremely difficult conditions, during the period when Indonesia was a Dutch colony. The collection was brought to the Netherlands, where the predecessors of Naturalis were entrusted with its management by the Dutch government.
Advice ColonialCollections Committee
The Colonial Collections Committee, chaired by Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You, provided its recommendation regarding the Indonesian government's 2022 restitution request. The three-year waiting period for this recommendation was a result of exceptionally thorough research, including provenance research conducted by Naturalis itself. Marcel Beukeboom, General Director of Naturalis, commended the committee for its recommendation: "The well-founded recommendation provided new legal insights, making restitution the correct choice. We understand this is a significant moment for the Indonesian people. For them, it symbolizes the injustice their country has endured."
A recommendation
In its recommendation, the committee determined that on both moral and legal grounds, the Dubois Collection does not belong to the Netherlands. It is considered plausible that the fossils were removed against the will of the local population. Fossils held spiritual value for the indigenous people, and force was used to identify excavation sites.
Cooperationwith Indonesia
Scientists from the Netherlands, Indonesia, and many other countries have been studying the history and evolution of humanity based on this collection for many years and continue to make new discoveries together. We look forward to continuing our decades-long research collaboration with Indonesian scientists. We are grateful that we were able to display these key pieces in our museum for so long and anticipate they will find a new home in Indonesia where a new audience can appreciate them.
It is not yet known until when the Dubois fossils will be on display at the museum.
More information
Media looking for press images can find them in this press folder.
The recommendations of the Committee and the underlying information can be found here.
Frequently AskedQuestions
What is the Dubois Collection?
The Dubois Collection consists of approximately 30,000 objects collected by the Dutch scientist Eugène Dubois between 1887 and 1900 in the Netherlands and Southeast Asia. The collection's primary focus is the prehistoric fauna of Java and Sumatra. In addition to fossils, the collection contains personal belongings, such as archives, measuring instruments, and even some of his own extracted teeth, which he used for comparison with fossilized human and ape teeth. The collection is the property of the Dutch state, and Naturalis manages it on behalf of the state.
What is the scientific importance of the Dubois Collection?
With the discovery of a "missing link" between humans and apes, Dubois demonstrated that humans, like other animals, are a product of evolution. His work is therefore a key pillar of the Enlightenment. The collection also contained a scratched shell, potentially the oldest cultural expression in the world—much older than Homo sapiens. The collection has been the basis for dozens of scientific publications, including the description of several extinct animal species.
What is the Dutch government returning?
The Dubois Collection, originally from Indonesia, including the so-called metadata, will now be returned to Indonesia. This includes at least 28,000 fossils, among them the key pieces: the shell, the skullcap, the molar, and the femur of the Pithecanthropus (now Homo erectus) described by Dubois.
Where will the collection go, and when?
We are still in consultation regarding the exact implementation of the return. In collaboration with Indonesia, we will fully commit to a careful transfer. It is up to the Indonesian government to decide where the collection will be housed.
What will you do with the "Early humans" museum hall?
We will adjust the hall in stages. As soon as the collection has been transferred, we will most likely temporarily display a replica with additional information explaining that the original pieces have been returned to Indonesia and the reason for the transfer. We will highlight the colonial past and the restitution process, with explicit attention to the Indonesian perspective. We are also considering a new permanent design for the hall that will tell the story of humans and human evolution from a broader perspective. At this time, it is not known until when the fossils will be on display at Naturalis.
Is this the first time that natural history objects—which are not human remains—are being returned as part of a restitution request?
No, but this is the first time that such a large and prominent collection is involved, and the first time it concerns a natural history collection from the Netherlands.
What is your opinion on the entire Dubois Collection having to be returned to Indonesia?
We are pleased with the clarity that has been provided. We realize that this is a very important moment for Indonesians, as it corrects a past injustice. For Naturalis, these pieces were part of our identity and a highlight of our museum. We are grateful that we were able to display them for so long and hope that they will find a wonderful new home in Indonesia where a new audience can enjoy them.
Will any more collection items be returned to their country of origin now?
At this time, we are not aware of any other restitution requests to the Ministry.