A tainted past: The fossil industry depicts itself as positively as possible in museums

Research by historians Gertjan Plets and Marin Kuijt shows that the fossil industry is able to gain a great deal of influence in the field of cultural heritage in the Netherlands through relatively small investments. They examined this influence on the basis of three museums that have received funding from the Dutch oil and gas industry in recent decades: the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, the Drents Museum and Rijksmuseum Boerhaave.

The research is based on interviews with museum staff, an analysis of policy documents and a close reading of exhibitions.

Oil and gas sector in a positive light

Dutch oil and gas production is increasingly controversial, not in the least because of climate change and the earthquake problems in Groningen. For BMGN - Low Countries Historical Review (BMGN-LCHR), Gertjan Plets and Marin Kuijt investigated the importance and influence of companies from these sectors, such as Shell and the NAM, in the museum sector in the Netherlands.

Our research describes how a certain 'energy discourse' is promoted in exhibitions, a narrative that portrays the oil and gas sector in a positive light.

Sponsorships and gifts

Kuijt: “Partly due to Dutch government policy, companies are important to museums. The government requires museums to generate 17.5% of their own income.” It is increasingly necessary for museums and heritage sites to position themselves as businesses that must pursue sponsorship contracts with, and donations from, industry partners. This evolution is not limited to the Netherlands and is part of a global development where the state is withdrawing from the cultural sector. “Museums, on the other hand, are also important to companies,” says Kuijt. “Companies paint a certain picture of themselves in those museums, which is as positive as possible. It's not just about advertising or PR, they try to convince the visitor of the importance of fossil fuel in the Netherlands.”

The fact that companies are gaining great visibility and influence in the cultural heritage field is problematic and should be questioned.

Reliable and independent?

The fact that companies acquire a high level of visibility and influence in the cultural heritage field is problematic and should be discussed, the researchers argue. After all, this is an environment that is generally considered reliable and independent by the public.

The research was funded by the Centre for Global Challenges. The article Gas, Oil and Heritage: Well-oiled Histories and Corporate Sponsorship in Dutch Museums (1990-2021) is open access.