Valhalla for the Toy Collector: POP MART Opens First Permanent Store in the Netherlands

BEIJING, July 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- No less than 67 m² of designer toys, exclusive releases and limited editions: after successful shops in London and Paris, Asian collectibles brand POP MART opened its first permanent store in the Netherlands on July 13, 2024, in Amsterdam's Kalverstraat. A Valhalla for loyal fans, collectors and new fans.

POP MART conquers the Netherlands with a permanent brand store
POP MART set foot on Dutch soil for the first time on Saturday, July 13, 2024, with the opening of its permanent brand store in this country, at Kalverstraat 186-188 in Amsterdam. Justin Moon, president of POP MART International: "We are extremely happy that we can now bring our unique store concept permanently to the Netherlands." Thanks to the fantastic location in the center of the capital, Dutch consumers can now get to know the coveted designer toys and have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in POP MART's unparalleled shopping experience. "For us as a brand a perfect opportunity to be even more in touch with our loyal fans and collectors in the Netherlands."

Exclusive launches
The store opening is accompanied by the launch of several exclusive, including the MEGA ROYAL MOLLY X Van Gogh Museum. Inspired by the famous Van Gogh painting Almond Blossom, this collector's item showcases what both POP MART and Van Gogh are known for: the combination of art & design.

In addition, a special addition to the Peach Riot collection - designed by American artist Libby Frame - was unveiled on the same opening day. This limited collection consists of three figurines of the famous characters from the popular punk band: Gigi, Poppy and Frankie. These coveted items are available exclusively in Amsterdam starting July 13, in a limited edition of 50 pieces each. Furthermore, during the store opening, collectors have the chance to capture the exclusive the HIRONO Reshape Sculpture and DIMOO Green Crab Plus figurine, and the unique AZURA Dark Soul figure and the special ZIMOMO Lava figurine are launched.

European expansion
For China-based POP MART, the Amsterdam store opening marks an important milestone in their European expansion. "Amsterdam is an international metropolis, a melting pot of different cultures and the mecca for art and design. The opening of POP MART in Amsterdam reinforces the brand's international image and has only spurred our plans to launch even more locations in the Netherlands this year," said Moon of POP MART.

About POP MART
POP MART is a Chinese company that has been capturing the hearts of collectors around the world since 2010 with their designer toys and unique toy figures, often designed by well-known artists. With strong visibility on social media and a growing number of physical stores and online outlets, POP MART has built a global fan base. The company represents amazing artists from around the world. Their collection includes dozens of iconic characters, such as MOLLY, DIMOO, SKULLPANDA, THE MONSTERS, HIRONO and more.

The brand currently has more than 500 stores in the capitals of more than 30 countries as well as 2,300 Robo Shops (blind box vending machines). In 2018, the Chinese toy maker ventured into new markets outside mainland China for the first time. Since then, many new locations have opened in Los Angeles, Washington, Melbourne, London and Paris, among others. This summer, they opened stores in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Milan.

Contacts
Tanya Chen
info@popmart.com 

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Valhalla for the Toy Collector: POP MART Opens First Permanent Store in the Netherlands

Valhalla for the Toy Collector: POP MART Opens First Permanent Store in the Netherlands

DUJIANGYAN, China, April 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Dujiangyan Water-Releasing Festival kicked off on April 4 in Dujiangyan in Southwest China's Sichuan province, attracting over 1,100 guests and tourists from home and abroad.

The annual event is a thousand-year-old tradition commemorating Li Bing, governor of the Shu state (ancient name for Sichuan) during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), who initiated the construction of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System in 256 BC.

The irrigation system, one of the world's oldest still-operational water-control projects, protects the Chengdu Plain from floods and droughts, earning it the reputation as a "land of abundance". Today, it irrigates about 770,000 hectares of farmland across eight cities and 41 county-level regions in the province.

In ancient times, workers used bamboo cages filled with stones, along with wooden tripods called "macha" to block the Minjiang River during winter. This allowed them to dredge the river channel and reinforce the dikes. As spring arrived, they would tear down the macha to release water for irrigating farmland in the Chengdu Plain.

A major highlight of the festival, the water-releasing ceremony on the opening day recreated a series of historical scenes, including cofferdam construction using ancient methods, blocking the river, sacrificial rituals, and water release.

Huang Shasha, a first-time visitor to Dujiangyan from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, said she felt honored to attend the water-releasing ceremony and experience the culture of Dujiangyan.

"Li Bing's wisdom in water control is truly impressive," she said.

Another highlight is that the Dujiangyan Water-Releasing Festival is jointly celebrated with Thailand's Songkran Festival for the first time this year, according to Dujiangyan city government.

Local officials said the two festivals will be permanently promoted together every year as a cross-cultural event.

This year's festival also features consumption promotion activities alongside cultural and tourism displays and performances.

During the three-day event, visitors can experience intangible cultural heritage skills and purchase characteristic products from eight cities in the Dujiangyan Irrigation System's service area, Kangding in Sichuan, and Thailand.

The Dujiangyan Water-Releasing Festival was listed among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items in 2006. Local authorities are applying to have the festival added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Water-Releasing Festival kicks off in Dujiangyan, Sichuan