The Netherlands has announced its decision to repatriate a 3,500-year-old stone head of an Egyptian official, which was illegally exported from Egypt during the Arab Spring. The artifact, dating back to the era of Pharaoh Thutmose III, resurfaced at the European Fine Art Foundation fair in Maastricht in 2022. Following an anonymous tip, Dutch authorities confirmed its illicit origins, prompting the dealer to voluntarily surrender the sculpture. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof pledged to return the artifact during his visit to the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The Dutch government emphasized the sculpture’s profound cultural significance to Egypt’s heritage and plans to transfer it to the Egyptian ambassador by the end of 2023. This move aligns with the Netherlands’ commitment to repatriating cultural heritage to its rightful owners. The Grand Egyptian Museum, a $1.2 billion project housing 100,000 artifacts, including Tutankhamun’s tomb and gold mask, is expected to bolster Egypt’s efforts to reclaim other key antiquities, such as the Rosetta Stone, currently held by the British Museum.