The Van Gogh Museum has suspended the distribution of its limited-edition Pokémon trading cards due to safety concerns, amidst alleged issues with scalpers targeting visitors exiting the exhibit. What was easily meant to be a delightful Pokémon and Van Gogh Museum collaboration transformed into a scalper's paradise and subsequently a fan's nightmare. The Times reports that the Amsterdam-based museum has taken this step due to "safety and security concerns" linked to scalpers, who have been accused of harassing visitors to sell them the cards at a reduced price.

The piece of contention is a trading card featuring Pikachu with a Grey Felt Hat portrait, which is being listed on eBay with prices anywhere from $70 to over $200. The museum released this statement to The Times: "A small group of individuals has created a situation that has forced us to take the difficult step of removing the Pikachu with a Grey Felt Hat promotional card from our museum. The Van Gogh Museum and the Pokémon Company International are highly committed to the safety of visitors and employees."

The partnership with the Pokémon Company aimed to stimulate the curiosity of children and young people about Van Gogh's life and work, coalescing the famous painter's art style with the globally recognized Japanese franchise. The collaboration not only included the special trading card, but also limited-edition merchandise, like Pokémon-themed interpretations of Van Gogh's work, featuring Pokémon like Eevee and Snorlax. Many of these items sold out instantly due to high demand and can now be found on eBay, including the disputed portrait of Pikachu with the Grey Felt Hat, which is listed for as much as $599.