Extinction Rebellion activists staged a protest outside the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on Saturday, leading to the temporary closure of the renowned museum. The activists chained themselves to the entrance tunnel and displayed banners criticizing the museum’s sponsorship deal with ING, which they accuse of contributing significantly to the climate crisis.
The Rijksmuseum, which typically opens at 09:00, remained closed until after 14:00 due to the demonstration. Activists carried messages such as “No art on a dead planet” and called for an end to the museum’s partnership with ING.
The protest resulted in the arrest of 33 activists. Extinction Rebellion argues that ING’s funding of fossil fuel projects exacerbates global climate issues and that the museum’s acceptance of ING’s sponsorship allows the bank to leverage the museum’s prestige to obscure its environmental impact.
Josefien van Marlen, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, criticized the museum for allowing ING to “hide its dirty face behind famous works of art,” and called for an end to the sponsorship.
Despite ING’s annual contribution to the Rijksmuseum being estimated at €700,000—less than 0.6% of the museum’s total income—activists view this support as significant. The Rijksmuseum, which houses masterpieces like Rembrandt’s “Night Watch,” is the most-visited museum in the Netherlands.
In response, the Rijksmuseum stated that visitor and staff safety is their top priority and deemed the protest unacceptable. ING Bank dismissed the protest, suggesting concerns should be directed to the bank itself and expressing willingness to engage in dialogue.
Dutch police intervened by breaking the chains and arresting the protesters after they refused to move their demonstration. The protest has ignited debate over the role of corporate sponsorship in cultural institutions and its impact on climate issues.
