Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum has shut its doors due to a climate protest staged outside the institution by climate activist group Extinction Rebellion (XR) over the weekend. The museum will remain closed ‘until further notice’.
During the protest, around 60 activists closed off the archways beneath the museum, blocking visitors from entering the institution. The protesters demanded that the Rijksmuseum cut ties with Dutch multinational bank ING Group, one of the institution’s main sponsors. Two long yellow carpets were rolled out with text ‘Rijks, say no to ING’. Yellow smoke bombs were set off and several activists chained themselves to a fence by the entrance.
‘The Rijksmuseum’s sponsorship relationship with ING is not only unacceptable but also completely unnecessary,’ an XR press release, issued after the protest, writes. ‘The Rijksmuseum’s total income in 2023 amounted to 123.3 million euros, of which 55.8 million euros came from audience income and 39 million euros from subsidies…ING’s contribution is estimated at around 700,000 euros. This means that if the Rijksmuseum breaks the sponsorship relationship with ING, it will lose less than 0.6% of its income. It is incomprehensible that the museum still chooses to protect major polluter ING.’
Rijksmuseum responded by closing the site to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and artworks in the collection. ‘Any action that jeopardizes this is unacceptable,’ a museum spokesperson told Dutch news agency ANP.
33 XR protestors who had chained themselves to the fence were arrested and moved them to another location, according to the local police.
