The planned Museum of National History is not likely to be created, its board says in an interview published in newspaper de Volkskrant.

Board members Erik Schilp and Valentijn Byvanck say there is no majority in parliament in favour of continuing with the museum and Interior Ministery Donner refuses to house it in Soestdijk Palace. The royal palace has been empty since the death of Prince Bernhard in December 2004.

A plan to set up the museum, approved by parliament in 2006, was followed by a lengthy discussion about its location and content. A decision to locate it in the eastern town of Arnhem was later reversed for financial reasons.

Since then the museum has confined its activities to organising travelling exhibitions and running a website. Recently it installed a small exhibition in Amsterdam’s Zuiderkerk.

Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum argues there is no need for a separate historical museum.

(cl/imm)

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