Van Gogh Museum In Amsterdam Warns Of Closure Unless The Dutch Government…

The iconic Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has now announced that it might be forced to shut down if the Dutch government does not provide funds for its much-needed renovation. The museum, which is home to many masterpieces by the 19th century’s most famous painter, sees millions of tourists every year.

Van Gogh Museum Threatens To Shut Down

The Van Gogh Museum is a Dutch art museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, one of the most renowned painters of the 19th century. The place houses many of his iconic works, including Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters, and Irises. It also features The Bedroom, Cornfield with Crows, and more. As per a report by ARTFORUM, the museum might be forced to close. It needs funding from the Dutch government for its much-needed renovation. 

Reportedly, the government is not keeping up with the promise it made under an agreement with the Vincent van Gogh Foundation in 1962, which ensures proper preservation of the painter’s works. The foundation owns most of the artworks on display at the museum. The artist’s nephew, also named Vincent van Gogh, established in 1960 to preserve the painter’s legacy. 

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The Rising Costs Of Maintenance

As per a report by ARTnews, the museum currently receives around $10 million annually from the government. The museum needs more funds to cover costs for climate control, elevators, building infrastructure, and preserving the paintings. It now needs an additional $2.9 million per year. Furthermore, the building is reportedly in poor condition. Most of its technical installations have reached the end of their operational lifespan.

Responding to this funding request, the Dutch Culture Ministry shared with The Times that the museum’s housing subsidy is fixed and adjusted for inflation on an annual basis. It is calculated according to a methodology used for all national museums. The ministry also said the Van Gogh Museum already gets one of the highest subsidies per square metre among other Dutch museums. 

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The Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of works by the artist in the world. It comprises over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 900 letters. The famous museum is also one of the highest-earning public museums in the Netherlands. It welcomes around 1.8 million visitors every year.

Cover Image Courtesy: Van Gogh Museum, Wikipedia/ A,Ocram