10 things to know about the return of objects to Sri Lanka

The cannon came from the palace of the king of Kandy, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). It owes its fame is to its ornate decorations – it is made of bronze, silver and gold, and inlaid with rubies.

The symbols on the barrel of the cannon – a half-moon and a Sinhalese lion – stand for the king of Kandy.

The function of this small but striking cannon was probably ceremonial. It was possibly used for gun salutes to welcome visitors to the king.

A year after a failed attack on Kandy by troops of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), in 1765 they managed to penetrate this centre of the king’s power. They set about looting the palace and the city itself. Their booty included the cannon, along with many items of costly jewellery, and weapons.

The cannon was taken back to the Dutch Republic and given to the country’s leader: William V, Prince of Orange. He kept it in his cabinet of curiosities in The Hague. The cannon has been part of the Rijksmuseum collection since around 1800.

In 2017, Rijksmuseum curators and external specialists started an investigation into the origin of objects in the Rijksmuseum collection that have a colonial context. It is being carried out in close collaboration with partners in the countries of origin.

Sri Lanka submitted an application in 2022 for the repatriation of six objects from Kandy. The Colonial Collections Committee responded by advising the minister responsible to return these objects, and on 6 July 2023 the minister decided to do so.

The total of six objects that are being restituted to Sri Lanka comprise the cannon, two guns, two swords and a dagger.

Although the six objects from Kandy are to return to Sri Lanka, we will continue to focus attention on the historical relations between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka – the Dutch East India Company did occupy key areas of the island for more than 150 years, after all.

Included in the new display are six watercolours painted in Sri Lanka by Cornelis Steiger around 1710. They will offer visitors a general impression of the Dutch presence on the island in the 18th century.