Netherlands plans return of stolen ancient artefact to Egypt

Dutch authorities have confirmed that a 3,000-year-old artefact taken from Egypt will be repatriated.

According to BBC News on November 2, the stone head, which dates back to the time of the pharaohs, was stolen during the Arab Spring in either 2011 or 2012.  

Ten years on, the sculpture appeared in an arts and antiques fair in Maastricht. An anonymous tip was submitted to the Dutch authorities, who determined that the stone had been stolen and illegally exported. 

The sculpture has historical significance in Egypt and is originally from the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III.  

The Dutch government has stated that the stone is “deeply meaningful to Egypt’s identity” and has now pledged to return the stone. 

The Museum was initially scheduled to open in 2012; however, it was only partially opened 12 years later on October 16 2024.

The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has faced many delays, especially following COVID-19, as well as political instability in the region. In June 2025, the opening was delayed yet again due to the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.  

The Museum is an enormous complex that houses an extensive collection of historical sculptures and artefacts. According to the museum’s director, the site covers about 50 hectares (120 acres).

It is twice the size of the Louvre in Paris and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and roughly 2.5 times larger than the British Museum in London.

With its scale and significance, the Grand Egyptian Museum has the potential to draw visitors from across the world. However, its prolonged closure has deprived many of the chance to experience its collections in person.

Without the stone in Egypt’s possession, it loses enormous value. When authorities spoke on the matter, they stated that: “the Netherlands is committed both nationally and internationally to ensuring the return of heritage to its original owners.” 

There are many aspirations for the Museum’s future. Officials are hoping that the Museum located near the iconic Giza pyramids will attract an additional seven million visitors annually and raise the tourist arrivals to around 30 million by 2030.  

Tourism, a vital source of revenue for Egypt, generated $15 billion by welcoming 15.7 million tourists last year.  Now that the Grand Egyptian Museum is open to the public, it hopes to hold on to its historic past but also its future.  

Prominent Egyptologists are also hoping to strengthen the demand for the return of key antiquities held in other countries, including the Rosetta Stone, which is on display at the British Museum in London.

BBC News, Maghrebi.org