Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw concert hall has broken charity tax rules for years, potentially benefiting from tens of millions of euros in untaxed donations and inheritances, the Financieele Dagblad reported on Friday.

The FD said the tax office has raised a formal objection about the support foundation that has collected donations for the Concertgebouw since 2001.

The fund has cultural ANBI charitable status, which exempts it from paying gift tax and allows donors to deduct their contributions from tax. But the eventual beneficiary is not a charity foundation – it is the public limited company Concertgebouw NV, which was established in 1882.

Director Simon Reinink confirmed to public broadcaster NOS that “the structure did not comply with the letter of the law”, though he said there had been no deliberate wrongdoing.

The arrangement, which has existed since 2001 must be completely restructured by January 1, 2026 to retain its tax benefits, the tax office said. “And we will do that,” Reinink said. According to the FD Concertgebouw NV will also be turned into a foundation.

The Concertgebouw, which has been privately funded for nearly 150 years, is one of the country’s most successful fundraising institutions. It has raised around €100 million over the past 25 years, much of which has gone on maintaining the historic building.

As yet it is unclear whether the Concertgebouw will now have to repay tens of millions of euros in back taxes. “We have no indication from the tax authorities that this will happen,” Reinink said.

The governing bodies of both entities include several high-profile Dutch business leaders. Former Ahold CEO Dick Boer has chaired the Concertgebouw NV since 2017, while ex-Shell chief Jeroen van der Veer stepped down this month as chairman of the support foundation after his second term ended.

Asked by the FD how such breaches could have occurred under such experienced leadership, Reinink said: “Interesting question. But none of us ever asked whether it was legally correct. The NV is part of our DNA. We raise money for a good cause — nothing more, nothing less. Nobody here has gained from it.”