Headline: Extinction Rebellion Activists Protest at Rijksmuseum, Leading to Temporary Closure
Subheading: Climate Action Group Calls for End to ING Sponsorship Amidst Concerns Over Climate Impact
Byline: [Your Name], NL Times
Date: Saturday, 7 September 2024
Lead:
Amidst a call for action against the financial backing of climate change, Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists have chained themselves to the entrance of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, resulting in the museum’s temporary closure. The group is urging the Rijksmuseum to terminate its sponsorship agreement with the ING bank, which they argue is a major contributor to the climate crisis.
Body:
On Saturday morning, XR activists chained themselves to the tunnel fences leading to the Rijksmuseum’s entrance, effectively blocking access to the museum. Their protest, aimed at preventing visitors from entering, follows their demand for the museum to sever its ties with ING, which they claim is the largest financial driver of the climate crisis.
The yellow-clad protesters unfurled two large banners reading Rijks, say no to ING! and hung up additional banners with slogans like No art on a dead planet. At around 8:30 a.m., some activists chained themselves to the fences, emphasizing their commitment to their cause.
An XR spokesperson expressed their disappointment in the Rijksmuseum’s choice to be sponsored by ING. It is incomprehensible that the Rijksmuseum is allowing itself to be sponsored by ING, the spokesperson stated. By accepting money from ING, the museum is giving the big polluter the opportunity to hide its dirty face behind famous works of art from Dutch history. This has to stop.
XR activists argue that the sponsorship arrangement makes no sense for the Rijksmuseum, as it generates a negligible amount of income—approximately 700,000 euros—compared to the museum’s total revenue of 123.3 million euros in 2023. This figure includes 55.8 million euros from ticket sales and 39 million euros from subsidies. The group claims that ending the sponsorship with ING would result in a loss of less than 0.6% of the museum’s income.
The Rijksmuseum, one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands, typically opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays. In February, XR had previously protested the ING sponsorship by placing edited paintings in front of the artworks during the opening of the Frans Hals exhibition.
Responding to the protest, an ING spokesperson said, If XR has a problem with ING’s financing policy, they should contact us directly and not the Rijksmuseum. We are always open to dialogue.
The XR movement has been actively campaigning against ING’s climate policy, including blocking the A10 highway near ING’s former headquarters in Amsterdam.
Conclusion:
The closure of the Rijksmuseum following the XR protest highlights the ongoing debate over the role of corporations in climate change and the responsibility of cultural institutions to address environmental issues. As the XR activists continue their campaign, the question of whether the Rijksmuseum will reconsider its sponsorship deal with ING remains to be seen.
Tags: Extinction Rebellion, Rijksmuseum, ING bank, climate activism, Amsterdam, protest, museum closure, environmental concerns
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