Van Gogh Museum Warns of Possible Closure Without Dutch Government Support

Amsterdam’s world-famous Van Gogh Museum — home to the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s works — may be forced to shut its doors unless the Dutch government helps fund urgent repairs, its director warned this week.

Since opening in 1973, nearly 57 million visitors have flocked to the museum to see masterpieces like Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters, Almond Blossom, and Van Gogh’s intimate Bedroom in Arles. But now, the building that safeguards these treasures is itself in crisis.

“If We Don’t Fix It, We Close”

Director Emilie Gordenker sounded the alarm in an interview, saying the 50-year-old state-owned building is deteriorating and in need of “major maintenance” — from failing elevators and outdated air conditioning to sewage system repairs.

“If we don’t address the major maintenance that needs to happen, we will have to close,” she warned.

The planned renovations, set to begin in 2028, could take three years and cost around €104 million ($121 million). The museum says it cannot cover both the massive repair bill and the loss of ticket revenue from partial closures during construction.

“All we’re asking is help financing the basic maintenance,” Gordenker stressed. “It’s not the fun, sexy, let’s-build-a-new-wing stuff — it’s keeping the building safe for the art and our visitors.”

Government Pushback

The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science insists the museum already receives an annual subsidy “sufficient to carry out the necessary maintenance,” citing expert research. The ministry noted that the museum has appealed the subsidy ruling in court, with a hearing scheduled for February 2025.

The dispute goes back decades, rooted in an agreement made when Van Gogh’s family handed over more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, 900 letters, and other works to a foundation in 1962. In exchange, the Dutch government pledged to build and maintain a museum to house the collection.

The museum argues that promise extends to the costly repairs now needed.

A Priceless Legacy at Risk

For now, the Van Gogh Museum remains one of the world’s most visited art institutions, a place where millions come to step inside the artist’s turbulent, colorful world. But unless a funding solution is reached soon, the director warns, that experience could be interrupted.

“It’s now getting very urgent,” Gordenker said.