Amsterdam is Getting A Willy-Wonka Inspired Chocolate Factory You Can Visit

(TMU) – Dutch confectionery company, Tony’s Chocolonely shared more information on the plans for their ‘mega chocolate factory with roller coaster’, including what it will look like.

According to Time Out, the Tony Chocolonely mega factory was inspired by the wonderful and weird Willy Wonka chocolate factory in Roald Dahl’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Tony’s Chocolonely factory aims to have loads of fun for chocolate lovers of all ages at their mega factory which will be built in Zaanstad, northwest of Amsterdam.

A rendering for the project, released by Dutch architect firm SeARCH, shows a central bright red unit with a rollercoaster track looping around it, as promised when Tony Chocolonely announced the complex build in November 2018.

With a target set to open the new factory by 2024, the build is expected to cost the company around €100 million (£89m/$115m), according to Time Out.

The chocolate giant also hopes the attraction will have the capacity for up to 500,000 visitors a year.

The company confirmed details on their website, saying: “There will be a mega chocolate factory that everyone can visit, with a roller coaster. Really. We have been dreaming of it for ages… and it will really happen now.”

“Tony’s Chocolonely has found a crazy location on the border of Zaanstad and Amsterdam: Pakhuis ‘De Vrede’, on the IJ / North Sea Canal.”

‘De Vrede’ used to be a storage and handling facility for grains and seeds, including cocoa. The ‘impressive building on the water with a beautiful story’ will be enhanced with the surrounding land set up as a public park and two new factories to produce the chocolate and produce the bar, with the entire process visible to visitors.

The post continued: “It will be a total experience. A Tony’s Chocolonely Chocolate Circus, where you can learn and experience everything about chocolate, the problems in the cocoa industry and what Tony’s Chocolonely does about it.”

“Every year we ultimately want to receive 500,000 chocolate fans. With a ride on the roller coaster through the factory, we hope that visitors are so upset by Tony’s mission that they will participate to realise it.”

“Together making 100% slave free the norm in chocolate is leading in everything we do. In the national monument Pakhuis ‘De Vrede’ the head office of Tony’s Chocolonely will be located and as we are used to with Tony’s, the door is always open for everyone. The building therefore has a public character with restaurants, sports facilities and flex spaces for impact organisations.”

“It will be some time before the Tony’s Chocolonely Chocolate Circus opens its doors. But we have taken the first step. In a year or 3 it will be there. In the meantime, we will keep you informed.”

Adding: “We are SUPER happy and cannot wait.”

We have little doubt the world’s chocolate lovers can’t wait either! Roll on 2024!