Egypt retrieves stolen artifacts from the Netherlands

The Egyptian Embassy in The Hague has recovered three artefacts that were illegally smuggled out of Egypt, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement on Tuesday. 

They include an ushabti figurine, a painted sarcophagus fragment, and a mummy head from the Late Period. The items date back to between the 26th Dynasty (664 BC) and the Hellenistic period (45 BC).

"Investigations proved that they left Egypt illegally as a result of secret excavation, and not from any museum, warehouse, or archaeological site," a ministry statement said.

The ushabti figurine and sarcophagus fragment were seized by Dutch authorities due to suspicions of their illegal export. The mummy head was voluntarily returned by a Dutch citizen who inherited it, recognizing its cultural significance. 

The repatriation of these artefacts underscores Egypt's commitment to recovering smuggled cultural heritage. 

Shaaban Abd El Gawad, Director of the Repatriation Department, detailed the items’ historical significance, noting that Egypt has recovered over 30,000 artefacts since 2014.