Bobbejaanland is a theme park in Lichtaart, Belgium. The park was founded by Bobbejaan Schoepen, a Flemish singer, guitarist, and entertainer who enjoyed international success in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1959, he bought a 30-hectare marsh, had it drained and built a 1,000-capacity venue that opened in December 1961 as Bobbejaanland. This developed into an amusement park and remained in his possession until he sold it in 2004.
History 1961-2004: Independent amusement park For its first decade after opening the park centered on water attractions and performance spaces. Numerous variety artists from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany appeared there. Following the advice of Phantasialand owner Gottlieb Löffelhard, Bobbejaanland evolved from 1975 onwards into a theme park, with rides becoming more important than music shows. It grew to fifty attractions with four hundred employees and received visitors from the Benelux countries, France, and Germany. As an independent family concern, it also supported educational and cultural projects. By the end of the seventies, Schoepen's wife Josée (a former opera singer and model) opened a museum with works of art from the Hopi and Navajo cultures, forming an extensive private collection of Native American art.
In 1979, Bobbejaanland opened the Looping Star roller coaster (Schwarzkopf GmbH). Although the ride had a security bar placed over the hip, it was more the centrifugal force which held the passengers in the vehicle when it looped the loop.Looping Star BobbejaanlandVideo Looping Star Bobbejaanland The coaster was dismantled in 2003. In 1989, the park opened Revolution, an enclosed tubular steel roller coaster manufactured by Vekoma, featuring the world's largest train with 30 cars.
From the 1990s, three of Bobbejaan's five children worked for the park. A high wind turbine was added which provided the region with energy, as well as an adjoining museum of alternative energy generation. The windmill was removed in 2017 and moved to Ukraine. In 1995, the Kinderland (English: Children's Land) was opened as an area for young children.
In the winter of 2003, the park invested 12 million dollars (almost 11 million euros) in three new rides, the Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter Typhoon, the Vekoma Junior Coaster Oki Doki and the frisbee Sledge Hammer. In a 2004 survey of 13 European amusement parks by Belgian consumer organisation Test-Aankoop Bobbejaanland was rated second after Phantasialand.Test-Aankoop magazine 477, June 2004
Since 2004: Parques Reunidos In the early 2000s, Schoepen was diagnosed with cancer and he sold Bobbejaanland to the Spanish Parques Reunidos group in April 2004. Bobbejaan Schoepen died in May 2010, his widow continued to live near the park until her death in 2013.
In 2016, Revolution was equipped with Samsung Gear VR and renamed Mount Mara. In the morning, the original ride was active. In the afternoon, passengers had the option to wear the virtual glasses. The VR feature was removed in 2023. In 2024, the park invested 1 million euros for a huge refurbishment to commemorate the coaster's 35th anniversary.
Attractions
Present attractions
Roller coasters NameOpenedPhotoTypeManufacturerAreaDreamcatcher1987Suspended roller coasterVekomaDesperado CityRevolutionMay 1989IllusionVekomaAdventure ValleySpeedy Bob2 July 1998Wild mouseMack RidesDesperado CityBob Express15 June 2000Powered roller coasterMack RidesMystery BayOki Doki3 April 2004Junior CoasterVekomaKinderlandTyphoon10 April 2004Euro-FighterGerstlauerLand of LegendsNaga Bay9 April 2011Spinning roller coasterMaurer AGAdventure ValleyFury24 June 2019Infinity CoasterGerstlauerLand of Legends
Water rides NameOpenedPhotoTypeManufacturerAreaWild Water Slide1980Log flumeIntaminMystery BayBig Bang1989Water slidesAquatic / Van EgdomAdventure ValleyBootvaart1991Boat rideMack RidesLand of LegendsTerra Magma1991 (rethemed 2023)Indoor log flumeIntaminMystery BayEl Rio2000River rapids rideHafemaDesperado CityBanana Battle2008Interactive boat ridePreston & BarbieriAdventure Valley
Dark rides NameOpenedPhotoTypeManufacturerAreaThe El Paso Special1988Interactive dark rideMack RidesMystery Bay
Other attractions NameOpenedPhotoTypeManufacturerAreaAztek Express1996Music ExpressMack RidesDesperado CityBalloon Race1996Samba BalloonZamperlaKinderlandConvoy Trucks2000ConvoyZamperlaWondergardenCowboy Playground2018PlaygroundUnknownDesperado CityDubbeldek Carrousel1996CarouselPeter PetzKinderlandFlying Orca2002Red BaronHUSS RidesWondergardenGlijbaan1997Giant SlideMetallbau EmmelnDesperado CityGlijbaan Kinderland1996SlideUnknownKinderlandHorse Pedalo1987Pedal monorailMetallbau EmmelnDesperado CityKettingmolen1991Wave SwingerZiererWondergardenKing Kong2009The GiantHUSS RidesAdventure ValleyLocomotion2000Mini train rideHUSS RidesWondergardenMini Rad1996Mini ferris wheelUnknownKinderlandMini Trein1996Vintage train rideUnknownKinderlandMonorail1976MonorailSchwarzkopfBobbejaan Schoepenplein / Desperado CityNaiads Waters2019Water playgroundUnknownLand of LegendsOld Carrousel1996Mini carouselUnknownKinderlandOrbiter1996Bumper carsUnknownKinderlandPony Ride2002Electric horse riding trackMack RidesDesperado CityReuzenrad1976Ferris wheelSchwarzkopfAdventure ValleyRode Baron1997Red BaronZamperlaWondergardenSledge Hammer2004Giant FrisbeeHUSS RidesLand of LegendsSpeeltrein?PlaygroundUnknownWondergardenWondergarden2017PlaygroundBerliner SeilfabrikWondergarden
Past attractions
Roller coasters NameOpenedClosedTypeManufacturerNotesAchtbaan19761982WildcatSchwarzkopfBurned down. Replaced by Wervelwind.Alpenblitz19791981Powered roller coasterSchwarzkopfLooping Star19792003Looping StarSchwarzkopfReplaced by Typhoon due to a low capacity.Speedy Bob (left coaster)19982009Wild mouseMack RidesMoved to Parque de Atracciones de Madrid as Vértigo.Wervelwind19821999WhirlwindVekomaReplaced by Sledgehammer.
Other attractions NameOpenedClosedPhotoTypeManufacturerNotesAstroliner1979UnknownSimulator rideWisdom RidesAutoracebaan19??UnknownGo-kart trackUnknownAutoscooter19??UnknownBumper carsBufkensBalloon Race19861995Balloon RaceLutzBobby Drop19992008Spinning Rapids RideVan EgdomMoved to La Récré des 3 Curés as Niagara. Replaced by Naga Bay.Breakdance19872007BreakdanceHUSS RidesBull Riding19812008Mechanical bullReeves Southwest Texas / Anneliese KetzlerRequired an extra fee to be used.Calypso19??UnknownCalypsoSchwarzkopfCondor19861997CondorHUSS RidesReplaced by Fly Away.Desperado City20062012DesperadosAlterfaceFirst attraction built after the sale to Parques Reunidos.Draaiend Huis19821998Haunted swingSchwingelElektronisch poppentheater19791994Electronic puppet showHeimoReplaced by Desperado City.Fly Away20032014Fly AwayHUSS RidesMoved to La Récré des 3 Curés as Le Spontuus. Replaced by The Forbidden Caves.The Forbidden Caves20152023Immersive tunnelHolovisNot open during the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Funny Barrels19841992Barrel rideMetallbau EmmelnReplaced by Bootvaart.Indian Art Museum19782006Native American art collection/Parts of the collection were donated to Ghent University.Jommekesland19791982Playground / Mechanical bullUnknownKleine Monorail19691994Mini monorailSchwingelKoggemolen19852024Himalaya rideMack RidesKrokodillenshow1985UnknownElectronic puppet showHeimoMambo20002010Feria SwingMack RidesMoved to La Recré des 3 Curés.Mississippiboot19852008SteamboatScheepswerf ZelzateMystery Hotel19851996WalkthroughSparksReplaced by Speedy Bob.Nightmare Motel20162019Escape roomDel Dracco EntertainmentRequired an extra fee to be used.Oldtimers19781991Vintage car rideGebrüder IhleReplaced by El Rio.Paardjesbaan19822002Electric horse riding trackMetallbau EmmelnReplaced by Pony Ride and The Forbidden Caves.Parachute Tower19841996Parachute TowerVekomaMoved to a Taiwanese park.Pen Draig19942018Teacup spinnerMack RidesFormerly known as Dino Ride (2000s-2017) and Dino Dancer (1994-2000s). Moved to La Recré des 3 Curés. Replaced by Naiads Waters.Pony Express19761996Bayern KurveSchwarzkopfRainbow19852000RainbowHUSS RidesReplaced by Mambo.Santa Maria19792007Shuttle BoatSchwarzkopfSpaceball19871988Space ProbeVekomaRequired an extra fee to be used. Removed because of its low capacity.Spookhuis19751975Ghost trainSchwarzkopfTexastrein19702000Miniature railwayMack Rides / SchwingelExpanded with a Wild West themed tunnel in 1982 and a Time Tunnel in 1985Trap- en motorbootjes19621990Pedalos / MotorboatsUnknownTrapeze Tower19862005PlaygroundSperecoThe wooden posts were used to build the station of Dreamcatcher.Troika19822005TroikaHUSS RidesViking20042018Water carouselMack RidesMoved to La Recré des 3 Curés. Replaced by Naiads Waters.Zwemvijver19611975Bathing lake / Theatre/Closed because of its increasing unpopularity and several drowning incidents.
References
Sources Bobbejaan Schoepen (Johan Roggen, Publisher Het Volk, 1980 - D/1980/2345/10). De Vlaamse kleinkunstbeweging na de Tweede Wereldoorlog - Een historisch overzicht (Peter Notte, Universiteit Gent 1992). 'The Flemish Variety Movement after World War II - An Historical Overview'. Peter Notte, Ghent University, 1992) Bobbejaan Schoepen — "Histories" documentary, 4 January 2001 (Canvas/VRT) Bobbejaan Schoepen — The Belgian Pop & Rock Archive (Dirk Houbrechts and the Flanders Music Center, 2001). "Brel Le flamand" — Histories documentary, 2003 (Canvas/VRT). rides.nl Bobbejaan Schoepen Archive — Bobbejaan Records bvba Official Biography Bobbejaan Schoepen — by Tom Schoepen - "Volkskundige Kroniek" van de Federatie voor Volkskunde in Vlaanderen (i.e. “Folklife Chronicles”, magazine of the Folklife Federation Flanders)- yr. 14 - nr. 2 April-may-juin 2006). Bobbejaanland Nostalgie
External links Bobbejaanland Website (English) Official site Bobbejaan Schoepen Official myspace Bobbejaan Schoepen
Bobbejaanland Timeline Bobbejaanland Fansite (Dutch) Bobbejaan-Online (Dutch) BJL Nostalgia (Dutch)