Bone of contention: Rijksmuseum and Church disagree on final resting place of Dutch privateer's remains

Nyncke Graafland-van den Berg, director of the Old and New Church of Delft, emphasizes the importance of respecting burial practices, stating, "But I think that when you are buried you have the right to lie in peace. It is inappropriate to be going back and forth with bits of people's bodies." This highlights the ethical considerations involved in the handling of human remains, particularly those of historical figures.

The Rijksmuseum maintains that the remains hold 'historiographical' significance, asserting, 'the museum does not see that the Protestant community has an extraordinary emotional, cultural or religious relationship with the remains of Piet Hein.' This stance reflects a broader conversation about ownership of historical artifacts and their meanings.

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