Van Gogh Museum suspends employees after chaotic Pokémon collaboration

Chaos at the museum

Last year, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam partnered with Pokémon for a special collaboration, featuring Pokémon-themed art pieces and merchandise in the museum's gift store. However, the opening of the exhibit turned chaotic as fans rushed to buy limited edition items, resulting in pushing and crushing. Videos of the chaos quickly went viral, highlighting the frenzy surrounding the collaboration.

Staff misconduct

It turns out that it wasn't just the customers who were misbehaving at the opening. The Van Gogh Museum confirmed that four employees were suspended due to their actions during the collaboration. One employee, who had been working at the museum for over 25 years, was removed due to misconduct. The reasons for the suspensions included leaking information about ticket availability and an attempted embezzlement of limited edition Pokémon cards.

Limited edition Pokémon cards

The collaboration between Pokémon and the Van Gogh Museum included rare merchandise, including limited edition Pokémon cards that were only available at the museum. These cards have been seen selling for around £100 on sites like eBay, as scalpers tried to take advantage of their exclusivity. The attempted embezzlement of a box of these cards by one of the museum employees further added to the controversy surrounding the collaboration.

Conclusion

The Van Gogh Museum's collaboration with Pokémon may have brought excitement to fans, but it also resulted in chaos and staff misconduct. The suspensions of four employees, including a long-time staff member, highlight the seriousness of the situation. While the collaboration may have attracted attention, it also serves as a reminder of the potential pitfalls that can arise when worlds collide.