As kids, we always dreamed of finding a golden ticket and taking a peek inside Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
And now, those dreams are one step closer to becoming a reality after confectionary giant Tony's Chocolonely unveiled plans for an epic chocolate factory theme park in Europe - complete with a rollercoaster which loops through the roof of the building. Yep, seriously!
Set to be located near Amsterdam, the Netherlands' most popular chocolate brand (which, incidentally, we are also *obsessed* with) Tony's Chocolonely has now shared a glimpse of what the theme park will look like.
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And let's just say we'll be booking tickets as soon as it opens...
Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Circus is expected to be built in Zaandam, on the outskirts of Amsterdam, and is inspired by Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory with its whimsical glass elevators, candy boats and chocolate at every turn.
There's even going to be a rollercoaster running throughout the main building. We know - it's just too good.
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In a blueprint by Dutch architects, SeARCH, the factory - which looks like it will be a converted red brick warehouse - features a bright red rollercoaster and the brand hopes it will have the capacity to welcome up to 500,000 visitors every year.
It'll certainly be a spendy project, costing around €100 million (£89 million) in construction.
The idea was first announced by Tony's back at the end of 2018. They explained: "Tony's Chocolate is going to build a chocolate factory with a roller coaster in Zaanstad. 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. Whoop whoop straps. Tony's Chocolonely has found a crazy location on the border of Zaanstad and Amsterdam: Pakhuis De Vrede, on the IJ / North Sea Canal.
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"De Vrede used to be used for the storage and handling of grains and seeds, including cocoa. An impressive building on the water with a beautiful story."
Tony's went on to explain it will be a "total experience" where visitors can learn everything there is to know about chocolate, the problems in the cocoa industry and what the brand is doing to help.
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"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," they said.
"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 realize it. Together making 100 per cent 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 organizations."
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It's expected that the land surrounding the building will be set up as a public park, meanwhile two new factories will be built for making the delicious Tony's chocolate we know and love - the entire process of which will be transparent for visitors to see.
At present, the factory is expected to open in 2024, so while it's a few years off yet, we are *very* confident it'll be worth the wait!
Featured Image Credit: Warner BrosTopics: Life News, travel, Chocolate