October 1, 2025 | 03:24 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government will exhibit the Java human fossil returned by the Dutch government to Indonesia after President Prabowo Subianto visited The Hague on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Culture Minister Fadli Zon stated that the government is preparing a place for the revitalization of the returned fossils, particularly for revitalizing paleoanthropological knowledge. One of the prominent fossils returned is the Homo Erectus fossil known as Java Man, discovered by Dutch geologist Eugene Dubois in Trinil, Ngawi, Central Java, in 1891.
"It is planned to be exhibited at the National Museum," said Fadli Zon after attending the commemoration of Pancasila Sanctity Day at the Pancasila Sakti Monument, East Jakarta, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Fadli Zon stated that the Java Man fossil is an important discovery in the scientific world. In addition to the Java Man fossil, other artifacts will gradually be returned to Indonesia.
Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Gouke Moes symbolically handed over the fossil to Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon on Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands.
Fadli Zon mentioned this repatriation as a restoration of Indonesia's sovereignty and strategic victory after more than a century of knowledge of human origins being separated from its birthplace.
"Today, we are closing the historical gap and restoring the dignity of knowledge born in Trinil. The return of Dubois's collection is proof that Indonesian cultural diplomacy is working, the legitimate ownership of the Republic of Indonesia is recognized, and global research access remains preserved," he said in a release received by Tempo on Friday, September 26, 2025.
In addition to the Java Man fossil, the Netherlands will also return approximately 28,000 fossils or specimens from Dubois's collection, including fossils found by Dubois in Sumatra and Java. So far, the collection has been managed by the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto stated that the Dutch King agreed to return the 30,000 Indonesian fossils taken during the colonial period.
This repatriation agreement was made when Prabowo met with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the Huis ten Bosch Palace, The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday, September 26, 2025.
"I believe it is the good ethics of the Netherlands that want to maintain good relations with us," said Prabowo upon arrival at the Halim Perdanakusumah Air Force Base, Jakarta, September 27, 2025.
Dian Yuliastuti contributed to the writing of this article
Editor's Choice: Netherlands to Return 'Java Man' Fossils to Indonesia
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