Playpark opens early for local children
The new Spelen bij Beelen playpark in Rotterdam welcomed a maximum crowd on its opening day. The venue is not fully finished yet. However, organizers opened parts of the site on Tuesday so children from Rotterdam-South could play immediately.
One thousand visitors booked tickets for the opening day. The park reached full capacity across two daily time slots of 500 people each. For now, only local children from the south of the city can visit. Management will open the park to more people as development progresses.
Troubled history delays project for a decade
Plans to develop the former waste incineration site on Doklaan have existed for years. Entrepreneur Hennie van der Most worked for over ten years to build the Rivoli Rotterdam attraction park. However, he failed to finish and open the site. Several attractions, including a pirate ship, bumper cars, and a haunted house, were already operational.
Two months ago, the court declared Speelstad Rotterdam bankrupt. Last week, Van der Most Top Holding also faced bankruptcy. Van der Most previously stated that costs rose dramatically alongside major setbacks, including a large fire.
New owner introduces low-stimulus concept
Entrepreneur Wim Beelen bought the park at an online auction in April for 6.5 million euros. He decided to complete and open the venue in phases with simpler attractions.
Spelen bij Beelen caters to children under 12. The park offers a low-stimulus environment without electric rides, flashing lights, or loud noises.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
