Special Pokemon Van Gogh Museum Promo Cards Are Now Van Gone Over Safety Concerns

In a tale as old as time, another Pokemon event has been ruined by scalpers. What was supposed to be a fun and educational collaboration between the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Pokemon Company last month quickly descended into chaos when scalpers arrived to snatch up all the available promotional items. The most sought-after item was a special promo card, Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat, that was given to customers for free after any item was purchased. With the museum citing safety and security concerns, the limited-edition Pokemon card will not be restocked.

“The Van Gogh Museum and The Pokemon Company International take the safety and security of visitors and staff very seriously," the museum said in a statement (via VGC). "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 Pokemon paintings and the rest of the museum in a safe and enjoyable manner."

Scalpers wasted no time in posting the card for sale on sites like eBay, with some listings asking for anywhere between $120 to an astonishing $6,000 for the Pokemon tribute to Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. Collectors will instead need to shell out a minimum of $30 on Pokemon Trading Card Game products to receive one of these cards, according to the Pokemon Center.

This isn't the first time that adults have spoiled a Pokemon event. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pokemon increased in popularity and various events were held. In 2021, a McDonald's Happy Meal promotion with Pokemon goodies attracted scalpers and the Pokemon Company began reprinting high-demand card sets in an effort to increase their availability after initial runs had been acquired by flippers looking to make a quick buck online.