Extinction Rebellion (XR) has initiated a sit-in at the Gallery of Honour in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The environmental activists are protesting the museum’s sponsorship by ING.
According to XR on X, “ING is the largest fossil fuel financier in the Netherlands. We will not leave until the Rijks cuts its sponsorship with ING.” This marks XR’s third protest at the Rijksmuseum recently.
On September 7, police arrested 33 demonstrators who blocked entrance gates and defaced the museum’s entrance with yellow paint. A later blockade did not result in any arrests.
This afternoon’s protest is peaceful; initially, several dozen activists obstructed the view of The Night Watch. Ten activists later glued themselves together and to a bench in the gallery, reported by AT5.
They wore T-shirts with slogans like “No art on a dead planet” and “Rijks, say NO to ING,” but did not disturb visitors. XR announced the protest last Tuesday without detailing the action.
A similar protest was announced for Museum Night on November 2, which the Rijksmuseum called a “threat,” prompting closure that evening.
Source: NOS