The government of the Netherlands will return an ancient stolen sculpture to Egypt, fulfilling a commitment to repatriate cultural artifacts. The decision was communicated by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting on Sunday, marking a significant step in cultural heritage cooperation between the two nations.
Artifact’s History and Theft
The artifact in question is a stone head sculpture dating back to 1479-1425 BC, created during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III. According to reports from Dutch broadcaster NOS, it portrays a high-ranking official from that period. The piece is suspected to have been illegally removed from Egypt, most likely amid the political turmoil and security lapses of the 2011 Arab Spring.
Recovery and Upcoming Transfer
The sculpture reemerged in 2022 at The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Upon being informed of the artifact’s stolen status, the dealer in possession voluntarily relinquished ownership. The formal handover to Egypt’s ambassador to the Netherlands is scheduled to occur before the end of the year, though its future display location within Egypt remains undetermined.