Van Gogh Museum Warns Of Closure Without Dutch Renovation Funds

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, home to the world’s largest collection of works by the legendary Dutch painter, is locked in a high-stakes funding dispute with the country’s Ministry of Culture that could force its closure if unresolved. The museum, considered a national treasure and attracting about 1.8 million visitors each year, is seeking urgent renovations to safeguard its collection of more than 200 paintings and nearly 500 drawings by Vincent van Gogh.

However, two years of negotiations with the ministry over renovation financing have stalled, museum director Emilie Gordenker told 'The New York Times'. “If this situation persists, it will be dangerous for the art and dangerous for our visitors,” said Gordenker, who has led the institution since 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. “This is the last thing we want—but if it comes to that, we would have to close the building.”

An independent committee echoed those concerns in a report published last year, highlighting pressing issues with the building’s infrastructure. The museum is seeking an additional $2.9 million annually on top of its $10 million government subsidy to fund repairs to its climate control system and elevators and to bolster fire safety, security measures, and sustainability efforts.

The Ministry of Culture has rejected the request, arguing that the museum should cover the costs itself. In response, the museum has filed a legal complaint against the Dutch state, claiming it is in breach of a 1962 agreement with the Vincent van Gogh Foundation. The foundation, established in 1960 by Van Gogh’s nephew and heir, was created to preserve the artist’s unsold works, many of which now form the core of the museum’s collection. A court hearing is expected in the coming months.