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.
Netherlands
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?
Study Suggests Blue and Red Artworks Dominate Auction Sales
Dutch researchers concluded that blue and red paintings spark nearly 20% higher bids at auctions in the US, China, and the Netherlands.
16th-Century Visions of the Ruins of Religious Wars
As the 16th-century religious wars raged around Europe, Dutch artist Maarten van Heemskerck collaborated with printmaker Philip Galle on a series of 22 engravings featuring Old Testament destruction.
Dutch Soccer Hooligans Damage Historic Bernini Fountain in Rome
Dutch soccer fans wreaked havoc on Rome over the past two days, damaging a 17th-century fountain designed by Bernini and leaving the city’s historic center strewn with trash.
Advocating for Glow-in-the-Dark Roads with Vincent van Gogh
A glow-in-the-dark bike route inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” debuted this week in the Netherlands. It’s part of a larger vision to illuminate infrastructure with solar energy captured during the day.