The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has warned closing its doors if the Dutch government did not increase monetary support.
On Wednesday, the Van Gogh Museum issued a press release, accusing the government of failing to keep its promise and claiming that the structure is in “poor condition.” It said that most sections of the museum are near the end of their lifespan, and it is difficult to find spare parts for their upkeep. To remedy this, the museum had devised Masterplan 2028, an exhaustive renovation program estimated to cost over $120 million. The statement said that the museum was relying on government support to offset the losses it would incur during the scheduled closure of sections. However, the government had not been helping them as it should.
The “promise” refers to the 1962 agreement between the descendants of Vincent van Gogh and the Dutch government, wherein the family agreed to hand over almost all of the artist’s works to the museum in return for the government’s assurance of maintaining the museum and its contents. A New York Times report delved deeper in the issue, revealing that the Van Gogh Museum receives about $10 million each year from the Dutch government but is expecting $2.9 million per year more. The director of the museum, Emilie Gordenker, also cited safety as a major concern if funds were not provided for the renovation. The Van Gogh museum hinted that if the funds were not provided, it would be unfeasible for them to continue operating.
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Meanwhile, the Dutch government has not responded positively to the press release. The Dutch Culture Ministry said that the funds allocated to museums are revised annually to adjust for inflation. It added that the Van Gogh museum receives one of the “highest funds per square meter among all national museums.”
