The Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands has finalized the repatriation of a collection of rare 17th-century Ternate Sultanate ceremonial regalia to the National Museum of Indonesia. The objects, which include a ceremonial sword and a silver-inlaid helmet, were taken during a Dutch military campaign in the Moluccas in 1667.
This return follows a comprehensive provenance investigation that verified the items as trophies of war with high cultural and political significance. Indonesian heritage officials expressed gratitude for the restitution, noting that the objects are essential for the reclamation of local historical identity and the healing of colonial-era wounds.