Naturalis has replaced the Homo erectus fossils in the "Early Humans" gallery with replicas. The original specimens were returned to Indonesia in December 2025.
Plasticreplicas
Where four bright yellow plastic objects now stand, Naturalis until recently displayed fossils of the first-ever discovered specimen of Homo erectus. These were excavated in Indonesia at the end of the 19th century under the leadership of Dutchman Eugène Dubois, along with thousands of other fossils. The excavations were carried out by forced laborers who worked under extremely harsh conditions.
Shell andskullcap
In September 2025, the Dutch government decided that these fossils would be returned to Indonesia. In December, the Director-General of Naturalis, Marcel Beukeboom, personally returned the most significant masterpieces from the so-called "Dubois Collection" to the country where they belong. These include a molar, a femur, and a skullcap of Homo erectus, as well as a shell engraved by Homo erectus.
A realchange
"Naturalis is pleased that this restitution rectifies a historical injustice," says museum director Marjolein van Breemen. "For us, this return also means that the Early Humans gallery must be adapted. We want to give more attention to the partly colonial nature of the Naturalis collection, and work on that is currently underway. In the meantime, we have placed the yellow-colored replicas. We chose a contrasting color so it is immediately obvious to visitors that these are not the original fossils." Naturalis is also installing signage explaining the restitution.
The otherDubois fossils
In addition to these four key pieces, the Netherlands is also returning several tens of thousands of other fossils. These include remains of cattle, extinct relatives of the elephant, shells, and much more. Carefully packing and documenting these items will take many more months. Experts from Naturalis are also ensuring a thorough transfer of knowledge. The physical return of these fossils will take place in 2026.
