Three Smuggled Egyptian Artefacts Repatriated From the Netherlands

The Egyptian Embassy in The Hague has successfully brought back three ancient items that were unlawfully taken out of Egypt.

Among the items retrieved are a blue ceramic Ushabti statue with inscriptions, a coffin fragment decorated with carvings of the goddess Isis, and a mummy's head that is remarkably well-preserved, with teeth and hair still intact.

According to investigations, the items were removed through illegal excavation, rather than being stolen from a museum, storage facility, or any officially recognized archaeological site.

Close cooperation between Egyptian and Dutch authorities played a crucial role in retrieving these items. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the Office of the Public Prosecutor, collaborated with Dutch counterparts to bring the artefacts back to their native land.

The artefacts were found in a Dutch antique store and were returned to Egypt following a joint investigation. This recovery highlights the strengthened partnership between Egypt and the Netherlands in their fight against the illicit trade of cultural artefacts.

Since 2014, Egypt has successfully reclaimed over 30,000 artefacts as part of its broader campaign to recover and safeguard its cultural heritage.