Netherlands, France jointly acquire two Rembrandts

The Netherlands and France agreed on jointly acquiring two paintings of Rembrandt, both governments announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The owners of the works, the French Rothschild family, will receive around 160 million euros (179.3 million U.S. dollars). The two paintings will be exhibited together, alternatively in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Louvre in Paris.

The two portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit were painted by Rembrandt van Rhijn in 1634. The masterpieces are nicknamed the "brother and sister" of Rembrandt's most famous painting de Nachtwacht, the Night Watch, permanently exhibited at the Rijksmuseum.

Initially, the paintings seemed to be bought jointly by both countries, but in recent weeks The Netherlands tried to purchase them both according to reports in Dutch media, after which France reported to have bid for one of the two paintings.

Now Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Jet Bussemaker and her French colleague Fleur Pellerin came with a declaration on their common political and cultural goal: "Guarantee that both paintings stay on European soil, in The Netherlands and France and, and are shown to the public in two of the most illustrious museums of the world."

"The joint acquisition of these priceless treasures will strengthen the partnership between the Rijksmuseum and the Louvre and exemplifies the shared intention of the two countries to reinforce the deep cultural ties between the two countries," the statement ended. Endit