September 30, 2025
JAKARTA – Indonesia is set to receive thousands of fossils from the Netherlands, including the remains of first-ever “Homo Erectus” unearthed in Java, a move the government hailed as a cultural milestone and what experts call opening doors for new research on ancient human beings.
On Friday, Culture Minister Fadli Zon officially received a letter from his counterpart in Leiden, the Netherlands that confirmed the European country’s plan to transfer to Indonesia more than 28,000 fossils of the “Dubois Collection”, looted by Dutch geologist Eugene Dubois during the Dutch colonial era in the archipelago.
Included in the collections were remains of “Java Man”, the first ever Homo erectus unearthed by modern scientists. Homo erectus lived from around 1.9 million years ago to about 150,000 years ago.
Its skull cap, molar and femur, unearthed by Dubois in 1891 and 1892, were often used as evidence in theories suggesting the existence of early human existence in Asia. It challenged prevailing evolution theories suggesting ancient human civilization only emerged in Africa and Europe.
In a speech in Leiden on Friday, which recording was obtained by The Jakarta Post, Fadli said the repatriation was more than just a physical transfer of artifacts. The minister called it a “reconciliation of our historical narrative, an affirmation of our sovereignty and a perfecting of the story of human civilization in Nusantara.”
“The presence of these fossils in the Netherlands has disrupted the historical chain of our nation’s heritage,” Fadli said, “and the return allows us to reconnect with our past and showcase our cultural identity to the world.”
With the return, Indonesia stands not merely as a site of discovery, but also a subject of knowledge, the minister added in a separate statement issued by the Culture Ministry on Friday. He pledged to pursue the repatriation of other vital collections, and to deepen interdisciplinary research to ensure cultural artifacts.
No timeline had been set for the transfer of the artifacts, Culture Ministry special staffer Asrian Mirza told the Post on Friday. But he confirmed the collection would be housed at the National Museum in Jakarta.
In a statement on Saturday, President Prabowo Subianto called the artifact repatriation a goodwill gesture that could strengthen bilateral ties: “I think this is the Netherlands’ good faith to maintain good relations with us.”
Dutch Education, Culture and Science Minister Gouke Moss approved the repatriation based on advice from the independent Dutch Colonial Collections Committee. It recommended unconditional repatriation for the collection, which had been kept at the Natralis Biodiversity Center in Leiden.
“The committee is determined that the circumstances under which the fossils were obtained make it plausible that they were taken against the will of the local population, causing them harm,” committee spokesperson Chantal Tjin told the Post on Saturday.
She added the process involved consultations with Indonesian researchers and officials, ensuring both countries share a commitment to continue scientific research with the collection.
The latest repatriation was the sixth of such a decision taken by Amsterdam.
Scientifically significant
The colonial collections committee launched the investigation into the Dubois Collection following a request made by Indonesia in 2022 for the specimens.
But Indonesia had sought the return of the collection long before that, with the first request made with the Dutch dating back to 1951 under then-justice minister Mohammad Yamin.
Archaeologist Harry Truman Simanjuntak initially could not believe the news about the return of “Java Man” and other fossils retrieved by Dubois, doubting whether the repatriation would actually take place.
“This is a long-standing issue that has never come true,” he told the Post on Saturday.
Truman highlighted the significance of the collection, which is discussed in textbooks and literature across generations. The fossil collection, he added, showed that Indonesia “contributed significantly to the development of science”.
He said the repatriation plan should encourage the Indonesian government to provide greater support for genuine research to seek more answers on who we are, where we came from and where we are heading as a nation.
The archeologist also urged the government to make thorough preparations before receiving the fossils to ensure they are well-preserved and utilized for scientific purposes, rather than left to waste or used for personal interests.
Ruly Fauzi, archaeologist with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said the repatriation should be accompanied by detailed information on the historical background, discovery site and age of each item.
“These collections should not be treated merely as objects,” he said on Saturday, “but must be accompanied with documentation, including field notes from when it was excavated during the [Dutch] colonial era.”