The Facts
On September 30, 2026, the Van Gogh Museum announced a reorganization splitting its former Collections & Research Department into two separate departments effective August 1, 2026. The Collections Department, led by Marije Vellekoop, oversees collection presentation, expansion, and exhibition development. The new Research Department, headed by Joost van der Hoeven, focuses on art-historical and technical research into Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. Van der Hoeven, who joined the museum in 2015, has served as a researcher and curator, including organizing the exhibition "Matthew Wong | Vincent van Gogh: Painting as a Last Resort" in 2024.
The Signal
The restructuring signals the museum's strategic emphasis on deepening its scholarly role as a leading center for Van Gogh expertise. By creating a dedicated research unit, the institution aims to strengthen its capacity for original scholarship and digital dissemination of insights. For collectors and curators, this move underscores the growing institutional value placed on rigorous technical and historical research alongside public exhibition, a trend increasingly seen in major museums worldwide.
- Artists: Vincent van Gogh, Matthew Wong, Paul Gauguin, Charles Laval
- People: Marije Vellekoop, Joost van der Hoeven
- Museums: Van Gogh Museum
- Locations: Amsterdam
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