Van Gogh Museum pulls Pokémon promo cards due to ‘safety and security’ concerns

Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum has stopped a Pokémon promotional card giveaway due to what it called “safety and security” concerns for visitors and staff.

Last month, The Pokémon Company was forced to apologise after scalpers appeared to spoil a planned collaboration with the museum, which saw a line of unique Pokémon x Van Gogh merchandise made available.

When the items were first made available, social media videos showed huge crowds swarming the museum, snatching up items, with claims that many people had bragged about plans to resell the items for profit.

The special Pikachu promo card, “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat”, was given to customers for free after purchasing any item, and quickly appeared for sale in large numbers on auction sites for over $500.

On Friday, The Van Gogh Museum confirmed it would no longer be giving away the card due to safety concerns.

“The Van Gogh Museum and The Pokémon Company International take the safety and security of visitors and staff very seriously,” they said in a statement.

“Recently, a small group of individuals has created an undesirable situation that has led us to take the difficult decision to remove the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card from the museum.

“In this way, visitors will be able to experience this special collection of Pokémon paintings and the rest of the museum in a safe and enjoyable manner.”

Another opportunity to obtain the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card will soon be made available to those shopping at Pokémon Center (United Kingdom, United States and Canada), and the promo card will be reintroduced in participating retailers in the Netherlands early next year.

It will not be available via the Van Gogh Museum.