On September 7, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam temporarily closed due to a large-scale demonstration by the environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion (XR). Around sixty protesters, dressed in yellow, blocked the archways outside the museum, preventing visitors from entering. They called for the museum to cut ties with Dutch multinational bank ING Group, one of its main sponsors. The protesters set off yellow smoke bombs, unfurled long banners reading “Rijks, say no to ING,” and chained themselves to a fence near the entrance.

XR claims that ING is one of the Netherlands’ largest financiers of nonrenewable and harmful energy sources, including coal, oil, and gas. “ING is fueling the climate crisis,” read a tall banner displayed by the group. “ING is destroying our planet and the future of life on it.”

According to a police spokesperson, thirty-three protesters who had chained themselves to the fence were arrested. The demonstrators were offered the chance to move to the nearby Museumplein but declined. The museum, which had not yet opened for the day, remained closed until just before 3 PM to protect staff, visitors, and artworks. “Any action that jeopardizes this is unacceptable,” a Rijksmuseum spokesperson told Dutch news agency ANP.

A spokesperson for ING responded, “If XR has a problem with ING’s financing policies, they should turn to us directly and not to the Rijksmuseum. We are always open to dialogue.” In a press release following the demonstration, XR stated, “The Rijksmuseum’s sponsorship relationship with ING is unacceptable and completely unnecessary. The museum’s total income in 2023 was 123.3 million euros [$136 million], with 55.8 million euros 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 ends its sponsorship 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.”

Sayart / Joy nunimbos@gmail.com