The Rijksmuseum Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands was closed after climate activists protested outside the venue.
On Saturday, a group of climate activists stormed the Rijksmuseum Museum. Associated with the group Extinction Rebellion (XR), the activists wore yellow boilersuits and covered their faces with facemasks. They set off smoke bombs filled with yellow gas outside the entrance of the museum. Some protestors also tied themselves with chains to the museum’s fence.
The museum shut off its door within a few hours, to safeguard the works as well as its staff. A representative announced that the museum would remain closed until further notice. On the other hand, the Dutch police apprehended 33 protestors who had chained themselves to the fence. The police moved them out and allowed them to peacefully protest at another location, which they refused.
As per XR, the objective of the protest was to urge the Rijksmuseum Museum to cut off all ties with the ING Group, which they accuse of financing various projects adversely affecting the climate. The multinational bank is the main sponsor of the museum. An XR representative said: It’s incomprehensible that the Rijksmuseum can allow itself to be financed by ING, the largest financial driver of the climate crisis.”
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Meanwhile, the ING Group responded to the incident by urging XR to talk to them directly, saying “We’re always open to dialogue”. This isn’t the first time the XR group has disrupted museums with their activities. In April, a subgroup of XR protested at London’s Science Museum to sever its ties with the Indian coal-producing conglomerate, Adani.