Indonesians embrace return of plundered treasure

This photo taken on October 18, 2024 shows a pair of wooden doors, believed to be war booty from 1906, in a crate after being repatriated from the Netherlands, at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta on October 18, 2024. As of mid-December, 828 cultural items have been returned to Indonesia from the Netherlands, according to the Indonesian Heritage Agency. The Netherlands government has pledged to return cultural artefacts stolen during more than three centuries of Dutch control, based on a 2020 recommendation from a government advisory committee. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) / To go with 'INDONESIA-NETHERLANDS-MUSEUM-CULTURE, FOCUS' by Agnes ANYA & Marchio GORBIANO

In the mid-19th century, Dutch colonial officials climbing an Indonesian volcano spotted an ancient statue meant to serve as protection against misfortune, looted it, and took it to the Netherlands.

Today, the volcanic rock likeness of the Hindu god Ganesha stands tall inside Indonesia’s National Museum in Jakarta.