International symposium on the future of WWII restitution policies in The Netherlands
On September 12th, 2024, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) will organize an international symposium on the future of WWII restitution policies, in The Netherlands, and other countries, of cultural heritage looted by the Nazi regime.
In the period 1933-1945 the Nazi regime looted and confiscated an unprecedented number of cultural objects in the countries they invaded and occupied, including the Netherlands. Objects were also sold or surrendered, often under duress. Many art and cultural objects ended up in Germany, but objects were also acquired for museums in the Netherlands. After the war, many objects returned to the Netherlands and were included in the National Art Collection.
Under the current restitution policy, objects of which it is fairly certain that they were looted, confiscated or sold under duress between 1933 and 1945 can be returned to the original owners or their heirs. In other countries, similar restitution policies exist.
On September 12th, 2024, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) is organizing an international symposium on the future of WWII Restitution Policies, in the Netherlands and abroad. Various contributors will look ahead: what does the future look like? Is an end date to WWII Restitution Policies conceivable? Or a supranational policy? What are the opportunities and challenges in the field of provenance research? And how do we want to deal with “heirless” art with a WWII background?
