DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

26 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Private loan halts Cobra Museum closure as Amstelveen pulls plug

September 13, 2023
The Cobra museum has been hit financially. Photo: Peter Tijhuis

A wealthy philanthropist has stepped in to save Amstelveen’s Cobra Museum from closure after city officials said it would no longer be responsible to support the museum, given its financial situation and mounting losses.

Healthcare entrepreneur Marius Touwen has agreed to extend a line of credit to the museum to tide it over for the coming year, saying the museum’s finances are not as black as they have been painted.

Amstelveen council’s executive board said last week that they did not want to guarantee a loan to the museum, which they suggest could lose up to €700,000 this year. Officials also said they would no longer subside the museum to the tune of €1.2 million a year from 2024. 

The museum, which focuses on modern art and the Cobra movement, opened its doors in 1995 and 40% of its income comes from the council. 

News of the impending closure has led to a petition and an online appeal by artist and actor Jeroen Krabbé. The museum, he said, is the “heart of Amstelveen” and has hosted extremely important exhibitions such as that of Frida Kahlo and the current show celebrating 75 years of Cobra.

Councillors are due to vote on the plan to stop subsidising the museum at the end of September. The museum says it hopes Touwen’s intervention will give breathing space for talks with city officials about a structural solution to the museum’s problems. 

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Art and culture Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now