The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has sent out a chilling warning: without more help from the Dutch government, it may be forced to shut its doors.
The museum says a massive €104 million ($120 million) renovation is urgently needed to protect its priceless treasures. Without it, the building can no longer guarantee the safety of Van Gogh’s masterpieces, its visitors, or even its staff.
This isn’t just any museum. It holds the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s work—more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and almost all of his letters. These were gifted in 1962 by the artist’s nephew, Vincent Willem van Gogh, under a state-backed deal that promised the Dutch government would help maintain the collection forever.
Now, the museum says that promise is being broken.
The Dutch Ministry of Culture disagrees, saying the museum already receives enough funding under the Dutch Heritage Act to cover maintenance. They insist this decision is backed by independent expert research.
But the museum isn’t giving up. It has taken the fight to court, with a hearing scheduled for February 2026.
The museum stresses that after more than 50 years of heavy use, the building can no longer meet the needs of visitors or protect the art. Its ambitious “Masterplan 2028” calls for major renovations. The project will not only cost €104 million but will also mean around €50 million in lost income during temporary closures.
To survive, the museum says it needs an annual state subsidy of €11 million, up from the current €8.5 million.
For a country that treasures Van Gogh as one of its greatest sons, the stakes could not be higher.
Van Gogh—who painted over 800 works before his death in 1890—gave the world masterpieces like “Sunflowers” and “The Starry Night,” paintings loved across the globe. His museum has become one of the Netherlands’ most beloved cultural landmarks, drawing nearly 57 million visitors since it opened in 1973 and setting a record of 2.6 million guests in 2017.
Today, it generates 85% of its income from visitors and private partnerships, far more than most national museums. But even with this, the cost of protecting Van Gogh’s legacy has grown too great.
And so, the question remains: will the Dutch state step in to save the home of one of the world’s greatest artists—or will the Van Gogh Museum face the unthinkable?
