Museum Night in Amsterdam without the Rijksmuseum due to planned XR action

Museum lovers can visit the museums in Amsterdam until late on Saturday evening. The Rijksmuseum will remain closed during the annual Museum Night, as the climate action group Extinction Rebellion (XR) has announced an action at the museum. XR will carry out a replacement action on Saturday.

XR had planned a “secret action” with 45 protesters at the Rijksmuseum. The group assured that it would be non-violent and “also about art”. However, the Rijksmuseum decided not to take part in the Museum Night because “the safety of the public, staff and art” was at risk. The museum would not comment on whether it knew what the action was about and why it posed a risk to visitors and staff.

The closure caused great disappointment among the climate action group. “It is very unfortunate that the Rijks is acting as if we are a security risk. This is pointing the finger at the wrong association,” said a spokesperson. XR has therefore decided to demonstrate against ING's sponsorship of the Rijksmuseum in other ways during the Museum Night. For this reason, XR has already demonstrated against the museum six times.

In a press release, the climate action group claims that the Rijksmuseum's sponsorship relationship with ING is “morally reprehensible” as well as “completely unnecessary.” According to XR, last year, the Rijksmuseum's total income amounted to 123.3 million euros. ING's contribution is estimated at around 700,000 euros. “By ending the sponsorship relationship, the museum will lose less than 0.6% of its income,” XR says.

Although the Rijksmuseum will remain closed, more than 70 museums in the city will be open on Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Tickets for this cultural night are sold out. The organizers are offering visitors the opportunity to cancel their tickets, as the Rijksmuseum is not participating.