Overview
- The court found on Monday, June 29, 2026 that Birgit Donker’s 2025 dismissal was unlawful and awarded her €400,000, while requiring the board to publish a rectification of the record.
- Judges concluded the supervisory board carried out its own probe in an uncareful and partial way and should not have led the investigation that resulted in suspension and dismissal.
- The ruling said there was no proven, pervasive ‘angstcultuur’ across the museum even though some staff described direct leadership and high work pressure under Donker.
- The court noted a harsh De Volkskrant article based on anonymous sources may have played an important role in the board’s treatment of Donker and recalled the Raad voor de Journalistiek’s earlier finding that those anonymous claims were not verifiable.
- The case has already cost leadership: the supervisory board chair resigned after the trial and the museum has chosen not to appeal, leaving the organisation facing reputational scrutiny and likely calls for clearer governance and independent investigations in future.