Experts said the artefact is a stone head that was once part of a block statue from Luxor in southern Egypt and represents a senior official from the era of Pharaoh Thutmose III.
Dutch Culture Minister Gouke Moes handed over the sculpture to the Egyptian ambassador, saying the policy of the Netherlands is to return items that do not belong to it to their rightful cultural owners or countries.
Egyptian Ambassador Emad Hanna said the return was highly important for Egypt’s tourism and economy, noting that when tourists visit Egypt to see such artefacts, it makes a meaningful impact.
According to Reuters, the artefact appeared at a Dutch art fair in 2022 and was later seized by authorities.
Investigations completed in 2025 concluded that the sculpture was illegally looted during the chaos of the 2011 Arab Spring before entering the international art market.
The art dealer Sycomore Ancient Art voluntarily handed over the artefact after authorities found its origins could not be clearly explained during the investigation.
