KBRN, Jakarta: In a landmark decision addressing colonial-era injustices, the Netherlands announced on Friday, September 26, 2025, that it will repatriate approximately 28,000 fragments of early human fossils collected by Dutch scientist Eugene Dubois.

The collection, currently housed at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, a major natural history museum and research institution located in Leiden, the Netherlands, will be returned to Indonesia following an official request and a recommendation from the Dutch Committee on Colonial Collections.

Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Gouke Moes confirmed the decision, stating that the committee’s advice was based on extensive research. “We will apply that same comprehensive approach when working with Naturalis and our Indonesian partners to ensure a smooth repatriation,” Moes said, as quoted by antaranews.com.

The committee concluded that the fossils were likely obtained through methods that violated the will of the local community. It was determined that the Dutch government had no rightful claim to the Dubois Collection. It is recommended that the fossils be returned to Indonesia without any conditions.

Excavated by anatomist and geologist Eugene Dubois in the late 19th century, when Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule, the collection includes a skullcap, molar teeth, and a thigh bone linked to Homo erectus, a species considered a key link in human evolution.

Minister Moes acknowledged the scientific value of the fossils and emphasized that both countries agree on their continued importance for research. “Indonesia and the Netherlands share a belief in the collection’s significance as a source of scientific inquiry,” he said.

Marcel Beukeboom, Director General of Naturalis, echoed that sentiment, expressing confidence that collaborative research with Indonesian scholars will continue with strong enthusiasm after the artifacts are returned.

He noted that Naturalis and Indonesian researchers have long worked together to study the Dubois fossils. ***