Museum Vrolik in Amsterdam Completes Repatriation of Moluccan Ancestral Skulls
After 112 years, fifteen ancestral skulls have returned to their community on Yamdena Island in the Tanimbar archipelago of Indonesia. Museum Vrolik, located in Amsterdam, collaborated with a Moluccan diaspora group to facilitate this significant repatriation, which concluded on November 5, 2024. The skulls were returned to Desa Lorulun and Desa Tumbur (formerly Desa Amtufu) after a journey spanning over 10,000 kilometers.
The Historical Journey to the Netherlands
The ancestral skulls were originally taken from Amtufu in 1912 by G.N.A. Ketting, a medical officer with the Royal Dutch-Indies Army. Oral traditions in the village still recall the platform in a rocky niche where these ancestors were commemorated. Historical analysis suggests the individuals lived in the latter half of the 19th century or earlier.
In 1912, Ketting presented the skulls to Dutch anthropologist J.P. Kleiweg de Zwaan, known for his work in racial anthropology. At the time, many European scientists held beliefs that humanity could be categorized into distinct human races based on physical traits. Kleiweg de Zwaan, particularly interested in the Indonesian people from a racial study perspective, later gave the skulls to Professor Lodewijk Bolk, director of the University of Amsterdam's anatomical laboratory, which housed Museum Vrolik. After being detailed in Kleiweg de Zwaan's 1917 publication, "Tanimbarschedels" (Tanimbarese skulls), the skulls were moved to the Academic Medical Centre in 1984 and stored in the depot, not for public display.
Initiating the Repatriation Effort
The possibility of repatriation emerged in 2022 when Menucha Latumaerissa of the Moluccan-Dutch foundation Budaya Kita discovered Kleiweg de Zwaan’s 1917 publication in a thrift shop. Prompted by this discovery, Menucha inquired whether the skulls were still part of Museum Vrolik's collection. The museum confirmed that fifteen of the original sixteen skulls were indeed in their depot.
With support from repatriation expert Jos van Beurden, Budaya Kita initiated the formal request for the return of the remains. Menucha's sentiment upon seeing the skulls for the first time, "Ancestors, we will bring you home," encapsulated the foundation's determination.
A Collaborative Path to Return
The repatriation process was a collaborative undertaking, supported by Museum Vrolik, the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague, and Garuda Indonesia. Key assistance also came from Noah Fanoembi, ambassador by special appointment of Tanimbar Island in the Netherlands, and anthropologist Paul Wolff Mitchell, who provided a forensic report on the remains. The Board of Directors of Amsterdam UMC, the legal owner of Museum Vrolik's collection, also provided full support.
Budaya Kita contacted the communities of Desa Lorulun and Desa Tumbur via Noah Fanoembi. In December 2023, Museum Vrolik received an official request from the newly formed repatriation committee, leading to an agreement in spring 2024. Simultaneously, Budaya Kita connected with the Maselaman family, a Moluccan-Dutch family with direct lineage from Amtufu. The Maselaman family visited the ancestral remains in May 2024, an emotional meeting where they offered prayers and pledged to ensure their safe return.
The Journey Home and Community Welcome
The official transfer ceremony took place on October 31 at the spiritual care center in Amsterdam UMC, where the Indonesian Embassy sealed the case containing the remains. Museum Vrolik Director Laurens de Rooy, Amsterdam UMC Board Chair Hans van Goudoever, Jos van Beurden, and Max Maselaman spoke during the ceremony. A prayer in the Tanimbarese language by Noah Fanoembi marked the official transfer of custodianship from Museum Vrolik.
The case with the ancestral skulls departed Amsterdam on November 2, making stops in Jakarta and Ambon for official checks before arriving at Saumlaki Airport, Tanimbar, on November 5. After clearing customs, the Budaya Kita members and Maselaman brothers received a warm welcome from local officials and the new chairman of the repatriation committee, Dr. Jos Malinbar.
A welcome ceremony was held in Lorulun, where prayers and speeches honored the ancestors' return. Dr. Jos Malinbar emphasized the profound cultural significance of the repatriation for the community, stating their belief in the continued presence of gods within their ancestors. Max Maselaman echoed this sentiment, highlighting that "It is a part of themselves that returns." The remains will temporarily rest at the house of the former mayor of Lorulun while decisions are made regarding their permanent placement in an adat house or a specially built monument on the original burial grounds, restoring their function as symbols of remembrance and ancestor worship.
Museum Vrolik's Ongoing Commitment to Ethical Practices
This repatriation marks Museum Vrolik's second such international initiative, following the return of remains to New Zealand in 2019. However, it is the first repatriation of ancestral remains from the Netherlands to Indonesia, and notably, the first initiated by a diaspora organization and involving a non-government collection.
Museum Vrolik continues to address its responsibility regarding human ancestral remains and objects from colonial contexts. The museum is currently inventorying approximately 400 such remains in its collection, with about 80% originating from the former Dutch East Indies. This inventory, along with provenance research, will be translated into Indonesian and made accessible to communities seeking information about their ancestral remains. Budaya Kita is also preparing for future repatriations to Maluku, including another skeleton currently in Museum Vrolik's care.
Visitors interested in learning more about Museum Vrolik's history, collections, or its ethical initiatives can discover the museum's offerings in Amsterdam, a city rich with cultural institutions. Musemap (musemap.art) helps you discover more museums in Amsterdam and explore other cultural spots on the map.
