The Dutch institution had long tried to distance itself from Putin’s Russia, but after the invasion of Ukraine, distance was no longer enough.
Netherlands
Thousands Pledge To Egg Jeff Bezos’s Mega-Yacht As It Passes Through Rotterdam Bridge
“We don’t just take [Rotterdam] apart for the phallus symbol of a megalomaniac billionaire,” said the protest’s organizers, who oppose dismantling the historic bridge.
Omicron’s Rapid Spread Shuts Down Museums Across Europe
Art institutions in London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and elsewhere are impacted by the new wave of closures.
Interrogating the Past and Examining Resistance at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
Even with a tighter virtual program, IFFR is still setting the standard for this year’s arthouse film slate.
A Fanciful Collection of Over 4,000 Rare Surrealist Books and Periodicals
Collectors Laurens Vancrevel and Frida de Jong, who have been building a collection of international Surrealist literature since the 1960s, donated the trove to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.
After Years of Repatriation Debates, France’s Benin Restitution Bill Approved
Meanwhile, a new report commissioned by the Dutch culture minister suggests the return of “any cultural objects looted in former Dutch colonies if the source country so requests.”
After Years of Debate Over Colonial Ties, Witte de With Center Changes Its Name
The name Kunstinstituut Melly was chosen through an extensive renaming process, which began in 2018. The new name will come into effect on January 27, 2021.
Thieves Steal van Gogh Painting From Dutch Museum Closed for COVID-19
With museums across the Netherlands closed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, burglars used the pandemic to lift a van Gogh painting from the Signer Laren museum.
After Artist Pens Open Letter, Unseen Art Fair Owners Promise Payment
Felicity Hammond penned an open letter saying she was never paid the fees owed to her by Unseen art fair after it declared bankruptcy.
Rotterdam’s International Film Festival Highlights Communism, Unionism, and Environmentalism
The documentaries at this year’s edition tell stories of World War II spies, activists fighting deforestation, Czech political corruption, and more.
Amsterdam Museum Will No Longer Use “Golden Age” to Describe Dutch Colonial Past
The museum announced that it will no longer use the term to describe 17th century Netherlands, saying it whitewashes its problematic colonial past.
Repairing a Broken Planet Through Optimism and Design
Could you empathize better with a blade of grass if it had an email address? What about the entire ecosystem?