The Netherlands embassy in Nigeria has revealed that the Dutch nation will begin the handover of looted Benin artefacts to the Kingdom from June 21

The Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Bengt van Loosdrech who confirmed that his country will hand over about 199 bronze materials to Nigeria said the bronzes will arrive in the week of June 16, adding that the handover ceremony will take place on June 21 at the National Museum in Lagos.

They will later be returned to the National Museum in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

The number of artefacts is believed to be the single largest to be returned to Nigeria.

The bronzes were looted during the 1897 British raid on Benin City.

Earlier in February, the Dutch embassy in Nigeria said the artefacts should have never ended up in the Netherlands.

The ambassador said Nigeria had been clamouring for the return of the bronzes for over 50 years.

At the time, the embassy said the bronzes were expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year but did not specify when.