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.
Research conducted on the instructions of the Restitutions Committee has resulted in the return of the painting "Landscape with a Waterfall" by the artist Jacques d’Arthois to the heirs of Joseph Henri Gosschalk (1875-1952). The work has been in the collection of the Museum aan het Vrijthof Foundation since 1958.
The Restitutions Committee has assessed the application submitted by the people entitled to the estate of Emma Budge for restitution of two salts made by Johannes Lutma. It emerged from research conducted by the Expert Centre Restitution that the salts came from the private collection of the Jewish Emma Budge. It has also become sufficiently plausible that her beneficiaries lost possession of the salts involuntarily in Germany after 1933.
The Restitutions Committee has assessed the application submitted by the people entitled to the estate of Emma Budge (1852-1937) for restitution of a goblet holder made by Andries Grill (1604-1665) and a pottery dish (artist unknown, Sultanabad, c. 1285-1400). It emerged from research conducted by the Expert Centre Restitution (ECR) that these artworks came from the private collection of the Jewish Emma Budge. It has also become sufficiently plausible that her beneficiaries lost possession of the artworks involuntarily in Germany after 1933.
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
23 June 2023
The State Secretary for Culture and Media has appointed Professor A.I.M. (Toon) van Mierlo as the new Chair of the Restitutions Committee and Professor C.J.H. (Corjo) Jansen as a new Committee Member.
1 June 2023
Research conducted on the instructions of the Restitutions Committee has resulted in the return of the painting Landscape with a Waterfall by the artist Jacques d’Arthois to the heirs of Joseph Henri Gosschalk (1875-1952). The work has been in the collection of the Museum aan het Vrijthof Foundation since 1958.
10 February 2023
Following the recent departure of two of its members, the Restitutions Committee (RC) is taking all possible steps in order […]
Keep abreast of the latest recommendations and developments within the Restitutions Committee.
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2501 CN The Hague
+31 70 376 59 92
