The Restitutions Committee
During Nazi regime (1933-1945), art was stolen on a large scale from mostly Jewish owners. A looted work of art can nowadays be in the possession of the Dutch authorities, a museum or a private person. Do you suspect that an art object used to belong to your family and that it was lost as a result of the Nazi regime? You can then submit a request for restitution to the Advisory Committee on the Assessment of Restitution Applications for Items of Cultural Value and the Second World War (or the Restitutions Committee for short).
I want to submit an application I received a request
Three documentaries provide a chance to look behind the scenes of the Restitutions Committee. They show how the Committee does its work and how it prepares recommendations and rulings. They also reveal the emotional process that descendants undergo during the unearthing of the history associated with an artwork.
about the committee
The Restitutions Committee has advised on Nazi looted art in the Netherlands since 2001. It also shares knowledge on the subject through newsletters, lectures, symposia and publications. The Committee was established by the Ministry of Culture, Education and Science but operates independently. It consists of seven members and a secretariat and is based in The Hague.
The Restitutions Committee has assessed an application for restitution of the painting God Appearing to Abraham at Sichem by Nicolaes Moeyaert, which is in the NK Collection of the Dutch State. The Committee came to the conclusion on the grounds of the investigation conducted by the Expert Centre Restitution that it is highly likely that the artwork came from the private collection of the Jewish art dealer and collector Herman Hamburger.
The RC has assessed an application for restitution of the watercolour The Aunts Go on a Journey by A.H. Bakker Korff, which is currently in the Rijksmuseum Twenthe. The Committee has come to the conclusion on the grounds of the investigation conducted by the Expert Centre Restitution that it is highly likely that the artwork came from the private collection of the Jewish art collector Jacob Lierens (1877-1949) of Amsterdam. It has also become sufficiently plausible that Lierens lost possession of the watercolour involuntarily as a result of circumstances directly connected with the Nazi regime.
The Restitutions Committee has assessed an application for restitution of a Byzantine ivory relief entitled Hodegetria or Virgin and Child (maker unknown), which is currently held by Rotterdam City Council and is in the collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
International cooperation
Germany, France, Austria and the United Kingdom also have restitution committees for advice on Nazi looted art. In 2017, the five European restitution committees expressed their wish for closer cooperation and sharing knowledge. This resulted in the establishment of the Network of European Restitution Committees on Nazi-Looted Art. The Network meets regularly and publishes a Newsletter with contributions on restitution matters from the different countries.
CURRENT
10 November 2023
Else van Sterkenburg has decided to step down from her activities as the Restitutions Committee’s Secretary. We are grateful to her for her valuable contribution to the Committee’s work and the restitution process.
9 November 2023
The Restitutions Committee has advised the State Secretary for Culture and Media to restitute the painting God Appearing to Abraham at Sichem by Moeyaert to Herman Hamburger’s heir. The Committee concluded on the grounds of the investigation conducted by the Expert Centre Restitution that it is highly likely that the painting had been part of the private collection of the Jewish art dealer and collector Herman Hamburger since 1936. It also became sufficiently plausible that Hamburger lost possession of the painting as a result of circumstances directly connected with the Nazi regime.
7 November 2023
The RC has advised the State Secretary for Culture and Media to restitute the watercolour The Aunts Go on a Journey by Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff to the heirs of Jacob Lierens (1877-1949). On the grounds of research conducted by the Expert Centre Restitution the Committee concludes that it is highly likely that the watercolour came from the private collection of Jewish art collector Jacob Lierens of Amsterdam. Research has also shown that it is sufficiently plausible that he lost possession of the watercolour involuntarily as a result of circumstances directly related with the Nazi regime.
Keep abreast of the latest recommendations and developments within the Restitutions Committee.
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