The Hague: Europe and the Arab World

The Netherlands will return a centuries-old stolen artifact to Egypt. Outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof promised this to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Sunday. The newspaper added that the sculpture is a carved head, over 3,500 years old, believed to date back to the dynasty of Pharaoh Thutmose III. The sculpture first appeared in 2022 at the prestigious TEFAF art fair in Maastricht. Following an anonymous tip, it was determined that the sculpture was the result of illegal excavation or theft, after which the dealer voluntarily relinquished it.

The State Information and Heritage Inspectorate is expected to hand the sculpture over to Egypt by the end of this year. According to the Dutch newspaper, Schoof is on a two-day visit to Egypt, where he attended the official opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum and met with Egyptian President Sisi.

UNESCO Convention

The transfer of the sculpture is part of a broader international trend, with museums and countries paying closer attention to the provenance of artworks. This is being done, among other things, based on the UNESCO Convention, an international agreement aimed at combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property.

Last year, three artifacts were returned to Egypt, including a mummy head. Earlier this year, former Minister Ebo Bruins (Ministry of Culture, National Security Council) decided to return 113 statues to Nigeria that had been stolen by the British from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897. He stated at the time, "With this return, we are contributing to rectifying a historical injustice that people still suffer from today."

The Grand Egyptian Museum, which finally opened after years of delays, houses thousands of artifacts related to ancient Egypt, including a complete replica of Tutankhamun's tomb. It is not yet known where Egypt intends to display the returned statue. Journalist Noureddine Amrani, reporting from The Hague, stated in a written interview with the website "Europe and the Arabs" that Dutch interim Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced that during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, they discussed the issue of a 3,500-year-old stone head dating back to the Pharaonic era, stolen from Egypt. The head, from the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, was stolen and illegally smuggled out of Egypt, most likely during the Arab Spring in 2011 or 2012. It resurfaced in 2022 at the Tifaf art fair. The dealer abandoned the head upon discovering its stolen origin. The sculpture is expected to be returned to the Egyptian ambassador in the Netherlands later this year.

Egypt has inaugurated its Grand Egyptian Museum, which has been delayed for nearly two decades. It is set to become the world's largest museum dedicated to ancient civilization and is expected to boost the country's struggling tourism sector and economy. Located near the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, the museum houses more than 50,000 artifacts documenting the lives of ancient Egyptians.

A highlight of the museum is the complete display of the treasures from King Tutankhamun's tomb for the first time since their discovery in 1922. The opening ceremony on Saturday evening was attended by a number of world leaders, including kings, heads of state, and heads of government, in an event described by the office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as "exceptional in the history of culture and human civilization."

Sisi said the museum will combine "the genius of the ancient Egyptians with the creativity of modern Egyptians, to enhance global culture and art through a new landmark that will attract all who appreciate civilization and knowledge."