Madame Tussauds entity ceased to exist. On 17 July 2007, as part of the financing for the Tussauds deal, Merlin sold the freehold of Madame Tussauds to private investor Nick Leslau and his investment firm Prestbury under a sale and leaseback agreement. Although the attraction sites are owned by Prestbury, they are operated by Merlin based on a renewable 35-year lease. Madame Tussaud's wax museum became a major tourist attraction in London, incorporating (until 2010) the London Planetarium in its west wing and a large animated dark ride, "The Spirit of London", opened in 1993. Today's wax figures at Tussauds include historical
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam opened its doors at the main commercial street Kalverstraat becoming the first Madame Tussauds Wax Museum outside the United Kingdom. Twenty years after it first opened its doors to the public in 1971, Madame Tussauds Amsterdam moved into the upper floors of the building of the international chain of clothing stores Peek & Cloppenburg at the Dam Square. The following twenty years the museum was modernised in January 2012, and since then it includes interactive themes. Madame Tussads Amsterdam has a collection of life-size statues, divided into categories. Here some examples: Madame Tussauds Amsterdam Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is a wax