Netherlands to allocate $90 mn to buy two Rembrandt paintings

Brussels: The Dutch government is planning to allocate $90 million to purchase two paintings by renowned Dutch painter Rembrandt.

The government along with Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum is planning to acquire the two paintings, which have an estimated value of $180 million, Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science Jet Bussemaker told Dutch public broadcaster Nos.

Bussemaker said there was a good possibility of finalising the deal, stressing that the Rijksmuseum was working to find the remaining $90 million required to purchase the paintings.

Both paintings have been in France since the 19th century and are owned by the Rothschild family.

The works are wedding portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit in 1634, and were sold in 1877 by the Dutch Van Loon family to the Rothschild family in France.

Earlier this month, the director of the Louvre Museum said it was working with the management in the Rijksmuseum to buy the two paintings.

While the Rijksmuseum refused to comment on the Louvre director's account, it was not known if the French museum was still involved in the process.