Netherlands: Van Gogh Museum threatens closure amid maintenance costs

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam said it faces closure in the near future if the Dutch government does not contribute more to a €104 million maintenance plan, according to a statement released Wednesday, August 27.

The famous museum has claimed it will be unable to finance the large-scale plan of "major maintenance" and "essential sustainability measures" , which is due to begin in 2028 and last around three years.

The museum is willing to use its own resources to cover the estimated €50 million in lost revenue during the partial closures and to co-finance the work. However, it estimates that an annual government contribution of more than €11 million is required to implement this plan.

"The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, however, will not provide more than the current level of support, which is €8.5 million, leaving the museum with an annual deficit of €2.5 million," the museum said. "This is the last thing we want, but if it comes to that, we will have to close the building," it said.

The ministry said in an email that it believes the grant is "sufficient to cover necessary maintenance costs." "This position is based on extensive research conducted by independent experts commissioned by the ministry," it said.

The Van Gogh Museum challenged the decision to award the grant in 2023 and recently initiated legal proceedings, the ministry continued, adding that such challenges were "not uncommon." The case will be heard on February 19, 2026.

The Van Gogh Museum is one of the Dutch capital's major tourist attractions, having attracted nearly 57 million visitors since its opening in 1973. Displaying several hundred works by the artist with the severed ear, including his famous sunflowers, the museum building was never designed to accommodate so many visitors, the museum states. "The buildings are in poor condition and require significant investment to ensure their safety and accessibility to the public," the statement continues.

In 1962, the painter's family entered into an agreement with the Dutch government to build and maintain a museum to prevent Van Gogh's work from being dispersed. His nephew, Vincent Willem van Gogh, oversaw the transfer of his works.

"A promise made is a promise kept. Even when it comes to a government," the museum said. The Van Gogh Museum derives 85% of its income from visitors and private partnerships, a higher share than most Dutch museums .