Van Gogh Museum Warns Closure Without Dutch Government Funding

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, home to an extensive collection of Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces, faces potential closure unless the Dutch government provides additional funding for urgent renovations. The museum, which attracts nearly 1.8 million visitors annually and has welcomed almost 57 million since its 1973 opening, requires approximately €104 million for critical repairs to its aging infrastructure, including climate control, elevators, and fire safety systems. Despite receiving around $10 million annually in government subsidies, the museum argues that this funding is insufficient to address the deteriorating condition of the building and fulfill the 1962 agreement ensuring preservation of the collection. The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science maintains that subsidies are adjusted for inflation and calculated uniformly across national museums, denying any breach of contract. Museum Director Emilie Gordenker has warned that without financial support, the institution may have to close to protect both the artwork and visitors, and the museum has filed a legal complaint alleging the government is not meeting its obligations. The renovation, planned to begin in 2028 and last three years, would also cause partial closures and reduce ticket revenue, heightening the urgency for government assistance.