The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam warned Wednesday that it faced closure without more state funding, saying a 104-million-euro ($120 million) renovation was vital to protect its masterpieces.

The museum — which holds the world’s biggest collection of the artist’s work — said the project could not go ahead unless the Dutch state honoured a 1962 agreement with Vincent van Gogh’s nephew by providing the necessary funds.

“The museum faces closure,” it added “because it will not be able to guarantee the safety of the collection, visitors, and staff.”

The Dutch ministry of culture rejected the warning, saying the museum already received a subsidy under the Dutch Heritage Act that was sufficient to cover maintenance.

It said its position was based on “comprehensive research” by independent exp

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