Inconvenient Heritage: Colonial Collections and Restitution in the Netherlands and Belgium

Author:   Jos van Beurden
Publisher:   Amsterdam University Press
ISBN:  

9789463720595


Pages:   248
Publication Date:   08 June 2022
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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Inconvenient Heritage: Colonial Collections and Restitution in the Netherlands and Belgium


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Overview

The discussion about objects, ancestral remains and archives from former colonial territories is becoming increasingly heated. Over the centuries, a multitude of items – including a cannon of the King of Kandy, power-objects from DR Congo, Benin bronzes, Javanese temple statues, Maori heads and strategic documents – has ended up in museums and private collections in Belgium and the Netherlands by improper means. Since gaining independence, former colonies have been calling for the return of their lost heritage. As continued possession of these objects only grows more uncomfortable, governments and museums must decide what to do. How did these objects get here? Are they all looted, and how can we find out? How does restitution work in practice? Are there any appealing examples? How do other former colonial powers deal with restitution? Do former colonies trust their intentions? The answers to these questions are far from unambiguous, but indispensable for a balanced discussion.

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Author:   Jos van Beurden
Publisher:   Amsterdam University Press
Imprint:   Amsterdam University Press
ISBN:  

9789463720595


ISBN 10:   9463720596
Pages:   248
Publication Date:   08 June 2022
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Preface Two countries in one book – In search of a framework – About this research Part I: A Decisive Phase in an Old Debate? 1. Choosing Colonial Collections 2. The Great Heritage Migration 3. Museums in Motion 4. The ‘Sans-Papiers’ of Colonialism Part II: Thrifty Returns in the 1970s 5. Indonesia, the Netherlands and Diponegoro’s Kris 6. Congo, Belgium and Leopold’s Troublesome Legacy 7. Suriname, the Caribbean and the Netherlands: More Returns on the Way? Part III: Recent Returns 8. The Campaign for Maori Heads 9. Fruitful Cooperation around Archives 10. Farewell to Over 18,000 Objects from the Museum Nusantara 11. Benin Dialogue Group: A Model for a European Approach? Part IV: Private Collections – Less Visible, but Not Less Important 12. Missionary Organisations and Superfluous Collections 13. Colonial Objects in Trade and with Private Persons Part V: Towards a New Ethics 14. Lessons from Settler Colonies and the Restitution of Nazi-looted Art 15. Trust, Equality and Justice Acknowledgements Consulted sources Index

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Author Information

Dr. Jos van Beurden is a senior researcher colonial cultural collections and restitution (Free University, Amsterdam). His most recent publications are: Treasures in Trusted Hands – Negotiating the Future of Colonial Cultural Objects (Leiden 2017) (nominated for the NWO Boekman Dissertation Price), and The Return of Cultural and Historical Treasures – The Case of the Netherlands (Amsterdam 2012). For his merits in the cultural heritage field, Van Beurden was appointed Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau. Jos van Beurden is founder of the news-clipping service RM* (restitution matters).

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