Monday’s strike comes on the heels of anti-tourism demonstrations in southern European cities, including Mallorca, Lisbon, and Venice. Overcrowding in these cities is believed to be the cause of a housing shortage, as well as a contributing factor to the destruction of the cities themselves.

The Louvre closed unexpectedly as staff went on strike over overcrowding and understaffing, stranding thousands of daily visitors outside the museum.

The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, temporarily shut down today due to a spontaneous strike by the museum staff citing mass tourism. This comes one day after anti-tourist protests erupted across a dozen European cities.

In the wake of that growing movement, workers at the Louvre reportedly spontaneously decided to walk out during a standard staff meeting on Monday, per the AP. Gallery attendants, ticket takers, and security all refused to operate their posts, complaining that the crowds have become unmanageable and the museum is understaffed.

The Paris museum has become a symbol of tourism pushed to its limits. Workers point to unmanageable crowds, chronic understaffing and what one union called “untenable” working conditions.

The Louvre strike, though sudden, was not without cause. Workers described 'untenable' conditions worsened by overcrowding, chronic understaffing, and crumbling infrastructure. With nearly 8.7 million visitors last year—more than double what its current systems were designed to handle—the Louvre has become emblematic of cultural landmarks pushed to their limits.

Union leaders and longtime Democratic National Committee members Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders resigned from the national party, marking the latest internal dispute of chairman Ken Martin’s tenure.

El Louvre, el museo más visitado del mundo y un símbolo global de arte, belleza y resistencia, permaneció cerrado el lunes, no por guerra