The Restitutions Committee advised the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science not to restitute 14 plates from the Netherlands Art Property Collection (NK Collection) to the applicants, the only granddaughters of Abraham Citroen (1885-1942). The Minister accepted this recommendation.

The Committee concluded that it is highly probable that Abraham Citroen was the original owner of the 14 plates. Research revealed that the plates were among the possessions that Abraham Citroen was forced to surrender to the looting organization Liro-Sarphatistraat during the German occupation. The plates are part of the estate of Karel Adolf Citroen (1920-2019), the son of Abraham Citroen and the father of the applicants.

The applicants were excluded by their father Karel Adolf Citroen as heirs to his estate in his will. The Committee takes the view that it should not infringe the freedom of a person to determine for themselves who their legal successor or successors pursuant to inheritance law are by departing from the general rule regarding the ownership requirements in its assessment framework. The restitution application was rejected on these grounds.

The Committee observed at an early stage that the applicants could in all likelihood not be regarded as successors pursuant to inheritance law. Alternative possibilities for return of the plates were discussed early on. At that time the applicants were told that the formal restitution procedure was likely to result in rejection. The applicants rejected an alternative route and asked the Committee to follow the formal procedure

There is a tragic family history behind every restitution application. Every recommendation entails dilemmas, which are weighed up extremely carefully during the decision-making process. The Committee emphasizes that it can only do justice to each object once. This calls for a clear legal framework that prevents entitled individuals from being missed.

Relevant recommendation: Citroen