The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has said it could be forced to close if the Dutch government does not increase funding for maintenance works.
Via a press release and The New York Times, the museum said the Dutch government is not honouring a pledge made in the 1962 founding agreement with Van Gogh’s nephew, who transferred ownership of the artist’s entire collection to a foundation established to create a museum of his works.
In return, the Dutch government committed to providing sufficient resources for the construction and maintenance of the museum.
According to a statement, the museum’s buildings are now in poor condition, and fall short in terms of sustainability, safety and climate control.
The museum requires substantial investment to keep its buildings safe and suitable for public access, and in response has commissioned a plan for major maintenance and essential sustainability works.
The €104 million project is scheduled to start in 2028 and expected to last for around three years.
However, the museum said it is unable to finance the plan because the Dutch government has not provided sufficient subsidy for its buildings and facilities. If the project cannot proceed, it added, the Van Gogh Museum faces closure.
“If this situation persists, it will be dangerous for the art and dangerous for our visitors,” the Van Gogh Museum’s director Emilie Gordenker told The New York Times.
Van Gogh Museum’s buildings in poor condition
“This is the last thing we want – but if it comes to that, we would have to close the building.”
The Vincent van Gogh Foundation, owner of almost the entire collection of works by Van Gogh, said it is “deeply concerned about the accessibility of the Van Gogh collection in light of the current funding issues surrounding necessary investments in the Van Gogh Museum’s buildings and facilities”.
It said: “Engineer V. W. van Gogh, nephew of the artist, made the agreement with the Dutch state in 1962 and made his private collection available to the public domain.
“In return, the Dutch state must fulfil its legally established obligations.”
Images courtesy of the Van Gogh Museum
