Since 2001, The Netherlands has a generous restitution policy in place for cultural objects from the so called “NK Collection” (Netherlands Art Collection). On the basis of this policy, everyone who believes he or she has a justified claim to an artwork from this collection, is invited to submit a restitution request to the Netherlands Government.

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The Hague, 3 April 2024

Search for original owners of looted art concluded

Claims can still be submitted

The active search for the original owners of works of art in the Dutch State Collection looted during the Second World War will come to an end on 4 April 2007. However, even after that date, claimants will still be able to apply for the restitution of art objects of the State of the Netherlands. This is in line with the restitution policy as it was first introduced in 2000. In these new cases the State will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Restitutions Committee, a team of external and independent experts.

After the War, as many art objects as possible were brought back to the Netherlands in order to ascertain their owners’ identities and return the objects to them or their heirs. Some 4,700 pieces, known collectively as the Nederlands Kunstbezit-collectie (the Dutch State Collection or NK collection), were never reunited with their owners. Since 1998, when the Origins Unknown project launched a renewed search for the rightful owners of the remaining objects, about 500 pieces have been returned to the heirs of the original owners.

In 2001, on the advice of the Ekkart Committee, the Dutch government decided to intensify the restitution policy that already had first been introduced in 2000. Many appeals have been made to the public, most recently in the form of the exhibition ‘Looted, but from whom?’ at the Hollandsche Schouwburg (Dutch Theatre) in Amsterdam, which closed on 18 March of this year. It is hoped that this will lead to the return of a number of objects. The exhibition drew about 13,000 visitors in all.