Demonstrations by environmental organizations led to the temporary closure of the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands

Recently, the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands was temporarily closed due to demonstrations by environmental organizations, attracting widespread attention.

According to the Dutch news website "dutchnews", on September 7, about 33 members of the environmental organization "Extinction Rebellion" wore yellow clothes and pants, wore masks, and held devices that could release a large amount of yellow smoke. They stood at the museum entrances and exits to prevent tourists from entering and exiting. They demanded that the museum sever its relationship with the Dutch bank ING on the grounds that ING had funded projects harmful to the climate. Members of the organization said, "The museum must sever its relationship with ING, otherwise we will not withdraw."

The organization "Extinction Rebellion" was established in 2018 and aims to force governments and businesses to take action to address the climate crisis through non-violent means. This is not the first time it has demonstrated against the relationship between the Rijksmuseum and ING. In February this year, members of the organization disrupted the museum during an exhibition of works by the famous painter Frans Hals.

At 1:30 pm on the same day, the Dutch police intervened and arrested the demonstrators. Soon after, the museum reopened. ING responded by saying that the organization's actions were radical and that the group "is always willing to have a dialogue" and suggested that it directly communicate with the group about project investment issues instead of protesting at the museum.

The Rijksmuseum is one of the museums with the largest number of visitors in the Netherlands. This incident has affected its normal operation and tourist visits. This incident has once again triggered discussions in all sectors of society about the action methods of environmental organizations and the responsibilities that enterprises should bear in responding to climate change. At the same time, it highlights the complex relationships and contradictions between art institutions, commercial interests, and social responsibilities in the context of the increasingly severe climate crisis. How to balance the interests and demands of all parties has become an urgent issue to be considered.