TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Culture has received the repatriated collection of ancient human Homo erectus fossils from the Netherlands. The collection includes the skull, femur, molar teeth of Homo erectus from Java, and shellfish shells that have been stored for more than a century at the Naturalis Museum in Leiden.
The historical fossils have finally returned to the homeland after extensive diplomatic work and discussions between the Indonesian and Dutch governments. The collection was handed over by the Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia, Marc Gerritsen, along with the Director of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Marcel Beukeboom. The Ministry of Culture immediately held an exhibition titled the Eugene Dubois Collection at the National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized the importance of these fossils to the scientific world. Eugene Dubois' discovery more than 130 years ago in the Bengawan Solo River, specifically in the Trinil area, Ngawi, East Java, is a significant indication of the historical richness of ancient human life in Indonesia.
"These four main fossils will be permanently housed at the National Museum of Indonesia, while the other collections will be adjusted," said Fadli Zon in a press conference following the opening of the exhibition on Tuesday, December 17, 2025.
Previously, in September, the Indonesian and Dutch governments agreed to repatriate more than 30,000 fossils and artifacts brought by Eugene Dubois to the Netherlands. Fadli continued that this very large number will be repatriated gradually. "The technical details are still being discussed. It will require at least six containers to bring them back," said Fadli.
Ambassador Gerritsen expressed his joy at the return of these fossils to Indonesia. According to him, this repatriation is a form of cooperation and respect for the historical and scientific value of the collection.
The Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture, Endah T.D. Retnoastuti, explained in a written response to Tempo that about 30,000 other collections will be repatriated gradually using six large containers. "Scheduled for mid-2026," she said.
Endah stated that the cost of repatriation will be jointly borne by the Indonesian and Dutch governments. The Indonesian government, she said, will cover the costs related to the import process and handling of the collection upon arrival in the homeland.
The repatriation schedule will be arranged jointly after all administrative and technical processes are completed. In principle, repatriation can be done at once or gradually, depending on the readiness of conservation, packing methods, and special transportation capacity. Financing will be adjusted to international museum collection handling standards.
All repatriated collections will be centralized at the National Museum. This decision is based on an evaluation of resource availability, facility feasibility, and ease of access for research purposes.
Museums outside Jakarta that meet the standards also have the opportunity to borrow and exhibit the Dubois collection. In the initial stage, the fossils will be gathered at the National Museum of Indonesia for the process of data collection, verification, and conservation. Distribution to other museums is possible, but will be done gradually and only to museums with facilities readiness and conservation personnel that meet the standards. The government is committed to ensuring that every placement of the collection is done safely and responsibly.
Read: Indonesia Welcomes "Java Man" Home as Netherlands Returns Homo Erectus Fossils
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