An essential place in the capital of the weakened Netherlands. The Van Gogh Museum said it was threatened with the closure in the near future if the Dutch government does not contribute more to a maintenance plan of 104 million euros, according to a statement published on Wednesday.
The famous museum said they could not finance the main “main maintenance” plan and “essential durability measures”, which were supposed to begin in 2028 for a period of approximately three years.
You are willing to use your own resources to cover the 50 million euros in estimated revenue loss during partial closures and to finance the work. However, it estimates that an annual government contribution of more than 11 million euros is necessary to apply this plan.
“Enough”
“However, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences will provide more than the current level of support, which is 8.5 million euros, leaving the museum with an annual deficit of 2.5 million euros,” said the museum. “This is the last thing we want, but if we get there, we will have to close the building,” he lamented.
For its part, the Ministry declared in an email to AFP estimated that the assigned subsidy was “sufficient to cover the necessary maintenance costs.” “This position is based on in -depth investigation conducted by independent experts ordered by the Ministry,” he said.
But the Van Gogh Museum went further. He challenged the decision to grant the subsidy in 2023 and recently initiated legal procedures, the Ministry continued, which added that this type of protest was “not uncommon.” The case will be heard on February 19, 2026.
57 million visitors
The cultural institution is today one of the main tourist attractions of the Dutch capital, which attracted almost 57 million visitors since its opening in 1973.
Exhibiting several hundred works by the artist with a cut ear, including its famous sunflowers, the museum building has never been designed to accommodate so many visitors, says the museum. “The buildings are in poor condition and require significant investments to guarantee their safety and accessibility to the public,” said the press release.
In 1962, the painter’s family concluded an agreement with the Dutch government aimed at building and maintaining a museum to prevent Van Gogh’s work from dispersed. His nephew, Vincent Willem Van Gogh, then supervised the transfer of the paintings.
“A promise made is a promise held. Even when it comes to a government,” said the museum. The Van Gogh Museum attracts 85% of its income from its visitors and private associations, a higher participation than most Dutch museums.
Source: BFM TV
