Van Gogh Museum scraps Pokemon cards after 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat' listed on eBay for $6,969

The Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has decided to stop distributing a special Pokemon card after it caused chaos and was being resold at high prices by scalpers. 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat' has been changing hands for hundreds of dollars, with one going on eBay for $6,969.

The collaboration between the museum and Pokemon, launched last month to celebrate the museum's 50th anniversary, aimed to inspire younger visitors and featured exhibitions on the artist's connections with Japan. However, it also attracted die-hard Pokemon fans eager to obtain the limited edition "Pika-portrait" card.

The card, known as "Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat," featured the iconic yellow character in a pose inspired by one of Van Gogh's famous self-portraits. It was obtainable after completing a special "quest" within the museum.


In a statement, the Amsterdam institution expressed its regret over having to remove the "Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat" promo card from the museum. This decision was made to ensure visitors could explore the exhibits safely and without disruptions while also considering the safety and security of the museum's staff.

Videos shared on social media showed unruly scenes at the museum as enthusiastic fans jostled and pushed to secure the prized Pikachu merchandise. As these cards are limited edition, collectors are willing to pay substantial sums to add them to their collections. Scalpers, who purchase as many as they can with the intention of reselling them, have contributed to the chaos.

For fans in Britain, the United States, and Canada, there is hope. The "Pokemon Center" will provide another opportunity to obtain the rare card. Retailers in the Netherlands will also offer the card again in early 2024. However, the statement emphasized that the card will no longer be available via the Vincent Van Gogh Museum.

But "it will not be available via the Van Gogh Museum," the statement stressed.