Kim Oosterlinck, professor of economics, will become the new head of Museums of Fine Arts

ULB professor Kim Oosterlinck will become the director of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium from July. He must bring peace after a turbulent period under former director Michel Draguet.

Kim Oosterlinck is exchanging his job at the Université Libre de Bruxelles for the director’s position at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (KMSKB). These include the Old Masters Museum, the Wiertz Museum and the Magritte Museum, all three in Brussels.

Oosterlinck studied management science, art history and archaeology. He obtained his doctorate in that first area. Oosterlinck became professor of economics and vice-rector at the ULB. In addition to his research areas in economics and finance, he also specialized in art trading.

According to the Government Science Policy Service, Oosterlinck was the most suitable candidate. With his management and leadership qualities, the department hopes that peace will return to the museums.

That peace is necessary after the turbulent passage of former director Michel Draguet. In 2022, 31 employees wrote an open letter addressing his mismanagement. It concerned derogatory comments, bullying, threats and intimidation. That misconduct is said to have led to burnouts, staff resignations and dismissals. “A climate of terror and contempt,” it said. Similar complaints were also received at the ULB, where Draguet is a professor.

Draguet has been director of the KMSKB since 2005 and was serving his third term in office. Shortly after the open letter, a decision had to be made whether a new term would follow. Draguet put himself forward as a candidate, but later withdrew his candidacy.

A long search followed for a new director, with Kim Oosterlinck emerging as the best. On July 1, he will start at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, where he will have to develop a ‘human and inclusive vision’ together with the staff, according to the internal email from the government Science Policy Service.