The decision to return some 478 objects followed recommendations by a government-appointed commission last year looking into illegal Dutch colonial acquisitions now being displayed in museums in the Netherlands.

“These recommendations are a milestone in dealing with collections from a colonial context,” said Gunay Uslu, Dutch deputy minister of culture, education and science, as quoted by AFP.

The commission was set up after a request from Indonesia for the Netherlands, its former colonial ruler, to return some art pieces and natural history collections.

The Netherlands’ reigning House of Orange profited by around 3 million guilders, or US$600 million today, from Dutch colonies in 1675-1770, a study commissioned by the government has found.

The State and Slavery study, which examines the role of the Dutch government and related institutions in colonial slavery and its aftereffects, was presented to the Dutch Parliament in June.

It included details on the House of Orange. Princes of the time notably received 3 percent of the Dutch East India Company’s profits from the spice trade in modern-day Indonesia, despite not being a shareholder.

The study is part of a wider reconsideration of the country’s colonial past, including efforts to return looted art and current struggles with racism.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander delivered an apology on July 1, which marked the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in former Dutch colonies.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized in December on behalf of the Dutch state for its involvement in the slave trade.

Some of the items to be returned to Indonesia include the so-called Lombok Treasure, consisting of hundreds of gold and silver objects looted by the Dutch colonial army after capturing Cakranegara Palace on Lombok Island in 1894.

The Netherlands will also return to Sri Lanka a bronze cannon decorated with silver, gold and precious gems, including rubies.

The 18th century “Lewke’s cannon” is believed to have been a gift from a Sri Lankan aristocrat called Lewke Disava to the king of Kandy around 1745-1746.

It is believed to have fallen into Dutch hands in 1765, when Dutch troops led by Ceylon governor Lubbert Jan van Eck attacked and conquered the Kingdom of Kandy.

After being displayed around the Netherlands, the cannon was eventually added to the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Rijksmuseum director Taco Dibbits said in a statement that the restitution was “a positive step in cooperation with Sri Lanka”.

“The relationship and exchanges of knowledge built up between the two nations in the fields of research and common history constitute a strong foundation for the future,” he added.

The commission would decide about other artifacts in the future, according to public broadcaster NOS.

These included art from Nigeria as well as the Dubois collection, which includes the reins of Java’s Prince Diponegoro, who opposed Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century.