Museums, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam at risk of closure

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, home to some of the Dutch painter's most famous masterpieces, has raised an unprecedented alarm: it may be forced to close unless the Dutch government guarantees increased funding for a fundamental renovation of the building.

In a press release, the museum's management declared that the situation was now unsustainable and that the Dutch state was "not keeping its promise" enshrined in the agreement signed in 1962 with the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation.

This foundation, created after the artist's heirs donated hundreds of works, owns most of the works on display, including the famous "The Potato Eaters" (1885). According to the "New York Times", the institution has already filed a legal complaint against the government, accusing it of failing to respect the financial obligations set out in the historic agreement.

The museum currently receives about $10 million a year in state grants, but it would need at least $2.9 million more to cover the growing costs of infrastructure maintenance, climate control, and building security.

"The condition of the museum is worrying," reads a statement from the Amsterdam institution. "Most of the technical systems have reached the end of their operational life, are conceptually obsolete, and increasingly difficult to maintain due to the lack of spare parts. Effective maintenance is no longer possible: the systems must be replaced."

To address the crisis, the museum has launched the 2028 Master Plan, a project costing over $120 million that includes renovations and a partial closure to the public over the coming years. Management has also emphasized that without increased public support, the projected losses in ticket sales cannot be offset.

"Security is at risk. If the situation doesn't change, it will be dangerous for the artworks and for our visitors," said director Emilie Gordenker. For its part, the Dutch Ministry of Culture responded that the state subsidy allocated to the museum is already one of the highest per square meter among all national institutions, adding that the amount is adjusted annually for inflation according to criteria applicable to all public museums.

But the government's position did not reassure the Van Gogh Foundation, which expressed "deep concern about the accessibility of the Van Gogh collection in light of the funding problems that are hindering necessary investments in the museum's facilities."

The fate of one of the world's most beloved museums, which attracts millions of visitors from every corner of the globe every year, now seems to be hanging by a thread.