The temple was originally built between 25 BCE and 14 CE as part of the Roman fortress known as Taphis, in Egypt.

The Egyptian government donated the temple to the Netherlands as a sign of gratitude for their participation in the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia.

The temple of Taffeh was built of sandstone between 25 BCE and 14 CE during the rule of the Roman emperor Augustus.

[5][6] In gratitude, Egypt assigned several monuments to the countries that replied to this plea in a significant way, including the Netherlands.

[7] Adolf Klasens, the director of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden and a Dutch Egyptologist[8] played a part in arranging the agreement where Egypt presented the temple to the museum.