Bellewaerde

Bellewaerde

Previously known as 1972 - 2013: Bellewaerde Park 1969 - 1971: Safari Bellewaerde 1954 - 1968: Touristic Center Bellewaerde
Main Entrance, 2018
Location	Zillebeke, West Flanders, Belgium
Coordinates	50°50′54″N 2°56′44″E / 50.84833°N 2.94556°E / 50.84833; 2.94556Coordinates: 50°50′54″N 2°56′44″E / 50.84833°N 2.94556°E / 50.84833; 2.94556
Opened	1954
Owner	Compagnie des Alpes
Operating season	April - November
Area	134 acres (54 ha)
Attractions
Total	32 (as of 2019)
Roller coasters	5
Website	www.bellewaerde.be

Bellewaerde is a theme park in the West Flemish countryside at Zonnebeke near Ypres (Belgium). It was established in 1954, on the grounds of the World War I Battle of Bellewaarde. Named after an old castle in its territory that still stands near the main entrance, Bellewaerde is the oldest operating theme park in Belgium. Originally a zoo and safari, the park expanded in the early eighties to become more of a general theme- and thrillpark, catering towards teens and families. The 54-hectare (130-acre) park is famous for its beautiful gardens, marvelous landscaping and its attention to theming. Its mascotte is a lion dressed as a king, King Lion. Bellewaerde draws about 850,000 - 900,000 visitors a year and is the main theme park in Flanders.

Major rides include the first Boomerang coaster in Europe (1984), a duelling alpine coaster (Dawson Duel), a Vekoma Mad House (Houdini's Magical House), several water rides including a log flume, a river rapids ride and a spillwater ride, the Screaming Eagle vertical drop tower, various stock rides such as a pirate ship, a swing carousel, an original Zierer beetle coaster, old-timers, carousels, an octopus, tea-cups and a Jungle Cruise-like boat ride, and an entertainment schedule that changes every year. Bellewaerde's latest additions are the world's first Topple Tower from Huss, El Volador (2005), a Zierer indoor coaster, Huracan (2013) a duelling alpine coaster, Dawson Duel (2017), and a Gerstlauer family coaster, Wakala (2020). In June 2019, the park opened the 3000m² Bellewaerde Aquapark, which features a variety of slides, pools, and a lazy river.^[1]

History[]

On 3 July 1954, the Touristic Centre of Bellewaerde was founded in Zillebeke. It was opened originally as a zoo and safaripark by the Florizoone family, which also operated Meli Park in Adinkerke. In 1971 the name was changed to "Bellewaerde Park', and simplified to "Bellewaerde" in 2004. In the 1980s the park evolved to an attraction park with rides such as the River Splash (a log flume, 1980) and the Keverbaan (a , 1981). In 1981, 1984 and 1985 the park was expanded with the addition of the "Far West", "Canada" and "Mexico" zones, respectively.

Bellewaerde was sold in the early 1990s to the Walibi group which in itself became part of the Six Flags Chain in 1998. Six Flags sold all of its European parks, including Bellewaerde, in 2004 to the British investment company Palamon. Bellewaerde is now part of the Grévin & Cie group, which is fully owned by Compagnie des Alpes.

In 2008 Bellewaerde officially became a zoo and a savannah-themed area was opened.

Bellewaerde is a seasonal theme park that is open for about seven months a year, from April until October. October is traditionally the month in which Bellewaerde's yearly Halloween Event takes place. Since 2005 the park also opens in the winter for few weeks during the Christmas and New Year period, decorated for the holidays with extra Christmas attractions and special entertainment.

Rides & Attractions[]

Current attractions and rides[]

Canada

Attraction Name	Type	Year of opening	Manufacturer	Additional information	Photo
Wakala	Family roller coaster	2020	Gerstlauer	Height: 21 m / Length: 660 m / Top speed: 50 km/h
Camp Niagara	Shoot-the-chute	1995	Interlink and	With a 20-meter drop, Niagara was the highest splash in Europe. The ride has a bridge over the drop in which visitors can get soaked.
Screaming Eagle	Shot `n drop	1999	HUSS	Maximum height: 52 m Top speed: 70 km/h
Indoor playground	Playground		unknown	Inside the Canadian Tearoom
Peter Pan	Caterpillar	1989	Mack Rides	Used to be in the India zone of the park until 2007. In 2008 it was moved instead of the Octopus in the Canada zone.
Big Chute	Hara Kiri Raft Slide	1989		Height: 10 m
Pirate Ship	Pirate ship	1987	HUSS	From April 29 until May 1, 2014, Sam Clauw set a world record for "Longest ride on a amusement park ride". He sat on the ride for 50 hours straight. The stunt brought in 2350 euros which was donated to a breeding program for Amur leopards.
Dawson Duel	Duelling alpine coaster	2017	Wiegand	Height: 25 m / Length: 450 m Top speed: 40 km/h 2 tracks for a duelling race. There are no breaks. The coaster is built on supports.
Gold Rush	Dive show	2015	unknown	Highest jump: 25 m

India

Attraction Name	Type	Year of opening	Manufacturer	Additional information	Photo
Bengal Express	Train ride	1972	Space Leisure	Was originally built at the playgrounds near the entrance of the park. The trains were moved in 1988 to their current location in the India area. During the ride a tape is played with information about the lions and tigers you see.
Bengal Rapid River	Rapid river	1988	Vekoma and Space Leisure	8 people per boat. The boats are divided in 4 compartiments that can move independently. Height difference: 3 m Length: 451 m
Lion viewpoint		2012	unknown	Built as 2 jeeps sitting through a glass wall to see the lions up close.

Jungle

Attraction Name	Type	Year of opening	Manufacturer	Additional information	Photo
Jungle Mission	Tow boat ride	1978	Intamin AG	Has been renovated over the years: Original name was "Jungle Adventure" (until 1982) 1982: renamed to "Het Zoemende Ei" (based on the Belgian comic books of Suske & Wiske) 1997: renamed to "Voodoo River" 2011: renamed to "Jungle Mission"

Far West

Attraction Name	Type	Year of opening	Manufacturer	Additional information	Photo
River Splash	Log flume	1980	Reverchon	Tallest drop: 12 m
Lilly's Casino	Arcade	1987	unknown	Lilly's Arcade is operated by a third party who quit in 2013. The arcade reopened in May 2014 under new management.
Keverbaan	Beetle coaster	1981	Zierer	This Tivoli Large coaster was bought second hand. The origins are currently unknown.
Shooting Gallery	Shooting gallery	1987	unknown	Closed and remodeled in 2006. The current Shooting Gallery is a smaller version of the old one, built with parts of the original.

Mexico

Attraction Name	Type	Year of opening	Manufacturer	Additional information	Photo
Boomerang	Shuttle coaster	1984	Vekoma	Maximum G forces: 5.2 G Maximum speed: 75.6 kilometres per hour (47.0 mph) First functional boomerang coaster in the world
El Volador	Topple tower	2005	HUSS	Height: 20 metres (66 ft) Maximum tilt: 60 degrees First topple tower built
El Toro	Breakdance	2006	HUSS	Bought from Walibi Holland where it was installed until 2005
4D Cinema	4D-film	2006	unknown	Bellewaerde tends to change the movie every season. There are also special movies for Halloween season and the Winter season (only in 2009)
Huracan	Indoor coaster, darkride	2013	Zierer	First coaster in Belgium with an onboard sound system.

Kids Park

Attraction Name	Type	Year of opening	Manufacturer	Additional information	Photo
Carrousel	Carousel	1983	unknown
Palendorp	Playground	1985	unknown	Renovated in 2015
Koffietassen	Teacups	1989	Mack Rides
Houdini's Magical House	Madhouse	1999	Vekoma	A Madhouse with the great Houdini as a theme. The story goes that the Great Houdini used to live there and after his mysterious death, it was opened to the public. However, Houdini's spirit lives on as he invites you in his house for one last magic trick.
Flying Carrousel	Swing ride	1999	Zierer
Frog	Jumpin' Star	2002	Zamperla
Express Train	train ride	2002	Zamperla	Rio Grande Train
Butterflies	Aerial Carousel	2002	Zamperla
Tuff-tuff	car ride	2002	Zamperla
Crazy Coach	Flying carpet	2002	Zamperla
Mini wheel	Ferris wheel	2002	Zamperla
Dancing Balloons	Balloon Race (ride)	2002	Zamperla

Removed attractions and rides[]

Name	Type	Opened	Closed	Manufacturer	Area	Reason	Photo
Cinema 180	Cinerama	unknown	1986	unknown	Far West	Burned down due to a short circuit in the Enterprise's motor nearby.
Enterprise	Enterprise	1981	1986	HUSS Park Attractions	Far West	Burned down due to a short circuit in the motor.
Tico Tico Show	Animatronics show	1986	2002	unknown	Mexico	Removed due to old age and rising maintenance costs. Replaced by 4D Cinema.
Dancing Queen	Paratroop swing ride	1989	2004	Frank Hrubetz	Mexico	Sold to De Valkenier in the Netherlands. Replaced by El Volador.
Slide	Slide	unknown	2007	unknown	KidsPark	Failed inspection due to old age.
Monorail	Monorail	1983	2007	Mahieu	Station: Jungle Route: Jungle, Far West, Mexico	Removed due to material fatigue, too old to repair
Ocotopus	Octopus	1980	2007	Carrouselbouw Holland Van Velzen	Canada	Too old to repair. Replaced by Peter Pan
Oldtimers	Car ride	1981	2009		Far West	Removed to make room for the European Bisons enclosure
Los Piratas	Dark water ride	1991	2012	Mack Rides	Mexico	Removed due to old age and was no longer in compliance with fire safety. Replaced by Huracan
Karting	Karts	2003	2005	unknown	Mexico	Was a paying attraction, probably removed due to lack of interest.

Animals[]

Current animals[]

Name	Park Area	Additional information	Photo
Hooded vulture	Canada
Black kite	Canada
Harris's hawk	Canada
Squirrel monkey	Canada
Common marmoset	Canada
Patagonian mara	Canada
Lions	India
Tigers	India
Amur leopard	India
Rothschild's giraffe	Savanna
Zebras	Savanna
Asian Elephants	Savanna
Ankole-Watusi	Savanna
White-headed lemurs	Savanna
Red ruffed lemurs	Savanna
Pelicans	Jungle
Capybaras	Jungle
Nasua	Jungle
Aras	Jungle
Flamingos	Jungle
Gracile capuchin monkeys	Jungle
Emperor tamarins	Jungle
European bison	Far West
Wallaby	KidsPark
Alpaca	KidsPark
Goats	KidsPark
Raccoons	KidsPark

Removed animals[]

See also[]

• Walibi Belgium
• Walibi Holland
• Walibi Rhône-Alpes
• Walibi Lorraine

Gallery[]

• 

  El Volador.

• 

  Screaming Eagle.

• 

  Bengal Rapid River.

• 

  Niagara.

• 

  Jungle mission.

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bellewaerde.

• Official website