Art Claims in Netherlands Remain Open

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This post is for historical informational purposes only. Please do not refer to this post for information pertaining to current Claims Conference programs. Visit What We Do for current program guidelines and information. Thank you.

April 12, 2007

In cooperation with the Central Jewish Board (CJO) of the Netherlands, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany has been urging the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science to abolish all deadlines for art claims. This effort is part of the Claims Conference/World Jewish Restitution Organization Looted Art and Cultural Property Initiative.

On April 3, 2007, Ronald Plasterk, the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science of the Netherlands, sent a letter to the Dutch Parliament stating that, although the proactive attempt to find the original owners (or their heirs) of works of art in the specific collection called the Nederlands Kunstbezit-collectie (the Dutch State Collection or NK collection) would end on April 4, 2007, claimants may continue to apply for the restitution of art objects held by the Government of the Netherlands.

Applications for restitution may be sent by letter to:
The Minister of Education, Culture, and Science
Postbus 16375
2500 BJ Den Haag
The Netherlands

The State will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Restitutions Committee, a team of outside independent experts. An announcement to this effect has now been posted on the website of the Ministry.

The text (in Dutch) of the announcement by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science is available at: www.minocw.nl

The text (in English) of the announcement by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science is available at: www.claimscon.org/index.asp?url=artworks/netherlands_ann_en

For more information on art claims in the Netherlands, please see: Art Restitution Organizations National by Country