Walibi Holland
Walibi Holland (previously called Flevohof, Walibi Flevo, Six Flags Holland and Walibi World) is a theme park in Biddinghuizen, Netherlands.
| Previously known as Walibi World (2005–2010) Six Flags Holland (2000–2004) Walibi Flevo (1994–1999) Flevohof (1971–1991) | |
| Location | Biddinghuizen, Flevoland, Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°26′24″N 5°45′45″E / 52.44000°N 5.76250°ECoordinates: 52°26′24″N 5°45′45″E / 52.44000°N 5.76250°E |
| Opened | 1971, Flevohof (old park) |
| Owner | Compagnie des Alpes |
| General manager | Mascha van Till-Taminiau |
| Slogan | Hard gaan |
| Operating season | April - October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | More than 40 |
| Roller coasters | 7 |
| Water rides | 3 |
| Other rides | ca. 30 |
| Website | Official website |
History
The park was opened in 1971 as 'Flevohof'. It was an educational theme park themed after agriculture and farming. Having struggled to compete with more modern family attractions, Flevohof went bankrupt in 1993, and was subsequently purchased by the Walibi Group that autumn, who redeveloped the site as an amusement park. After a major winter-long programme of reconstruction the park reopened as Walibi Flevo on 7 May 1994, featuring the world's first Vekoma suspended looping coaster (SLC), El Condor.[1] The park also adopted the wallaby mascot of its sister park, Walibi Wavre in Belgium created in 1975 by Eddy Meeùs, a Belgian businessman. (The name 'Walibi', incidentally, is derived from the first two letters of three towns in Belgium put together to form a single word: Wavre - Limal - Bierges).
The Walibi parks, including Bellewaerde in Belgium, were purchased by Premier Parks Inc. in 1998, who subsequently overhauled the Flevo park, removing the 'Walibi' branding and building thirty new attractions as part of its transformation into Six Flags Holland in 2000. Six Flags's nominal expansion into Europe saw a similar refurbishment of the Belgian Walibi theme park, which was renamed to Six Flags Belgium. Both parks benefiting from the group's rights to use Warner Brothers characters within them, leading to the creation of a Looney Tunes-themed area and a powered-launch coaster themed around popular comic figure Superman, later changed to the Xpress.
In 2004, Six Flags Holland and its sister parks were purchased by financiers Palamon Capital Partners, who grouped the attractions under the name "StarParks". The park reverted to Walibi branding in 2005; numerous attractions having been rebranded as the sale of the parks also meant the loss of any references to Looney Tunes and DC Comics characters rights.
In the second half of 2006, the parks were sold for the second time in as many years to the French group Grévin & Cie (Compagnie des Alpes), most notably the operators of the French themed resort Parc Astérix, who also purchased two other Dutch attractions - the Dolfinarium Harderwijk and Avonturenpark Hellendoorn. In 2011 the park was renamed as Walibi Holland, which introduced new mascots.
The adjacent associated event grounds were originally developed with Scouting Nederland for the EuroJam 1994 and the 18th World Scout Jamboree in 1995. It is or has been the location of many festivals such as the Lowlands music festival and the Defqon.1 music festival.
Attractions
Present rides
Roller coasters
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drako | 1992 | Zierer | Family roller coaster | Rattlesnake (2011-2013) Wok's Waanzin (2005-2010) Road Runner Express (2000-2004) Keverbaan (1992-1999) |
| Condor | 1994 | Vekoma | Inverted roller coaster | El Condor (1994-2013) |
| Speed of Sound | 2000 | Vekoma | Boomerang | La Via Volta (2000-2007) |
| Xpress: Platform 13 | 2000 | Vekoma | Launched roller coaster | Xpress (2005-2013) Superman The Ride (2000-2004) |
| Goliath | 2002 | Intamin | Mega Coaster | |
| Lost Gravity | 2016 | Mack Rides | Big Dipper | |
| Untamed | 2019 | Rocky Mountain Construction | Hybrid roller coaster | RMC conversion of Robin Hood (2000-2018) |
Thrill rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blast | 2000 | HUSS | Top Spin | Excalibur (2000-2018) |
| G-Force | 1998 | HUSS | Enterprise | |
| Karting | 2000 | Go Kart Track | Race Way Go Karts (2000-2010) | |
| Space Shot | 1998 | S&S Worldwide | Space Shot Tower | |
| Spinning Vibe | 2000 | HUSS | HUSS Magic | Il Gladiatore (2000-2010) |
| Skydiver | 2002 | FunTime | Skydiver | |
| The Tomahawk | 2000 | SBF Visa | Dance Party |
Family rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibi's Bubble Swirl | 2000 | SBF Visa | Wonder Flight | Spotted Bubbles (2005-2010) Elmer's Weather Balloons (2000-2004) |
| Haaz Garage | 2000 | SBF Visa | Big Foot | Rocky's Trucks (2005-2010) Bugs Bunny's Trucking Company (2000-2004) |
| La Grande Roue | 2000 | Vekoma | Giant Ferris Wheel | |
| Le Tour Des Jardins | 2000 | Chance Rides | Antique Cars | |
| Los Sombreros | 1994 | Soriani & Moser | Mexican Fiesta | |
| Merlin's Magic Castle | 2000 | Vekoma | Madhouse | |
| Merrie Go'Round | 1992 | SBF Visa | Carousel | Cavalli Barocca (2000-2010) Galopant (1992-1999) |
| Pavillon de Thé | 2000 | Chance Rides | Teacups | |
| Space Kidz | 2000 | SBF Visa | Tweety's Clubhouse | Oscar's Treehouse (2005-2008) Tweety's Tweehouse (2000-2004) |
| Super Swing | 1992 | Zierer | Swings | Piccolini (2000-2010) Wave Swinger (1992-1999) |
| Squad's Stunt Flight | 1994 | SBF Visa | Red Baron | Joe's Stunt Kite (2005-2010) Yosemite Sam's Flight School (2000-2004) Red Baron (1994-1999) |
| Tequilla Taxi's | 2000 | SBF Visa | Bumper Cars | Speedy's Taxis (2000-2004) |
| WAB World Tour | 2000 | SBF Visa | Looney Tooter Train | Horn (2005-2010) Looney Toones Tooter (2000-2004) |
| Walibi Express | Chance | C.P. Huntington Train | Six Flags Express (2000-2004) WALIBI Express (1994-1999) Flevohof Train (19??-1992) | |
| Walibi's Fun Recorder | 2000 | SBF Visa | Crazy Cars | Koa's Komische Carts (2005-2010) Taz's Traffic Jam (2000-2004) |
| Zen's Graffity Shuttle | 2000 | SBF Visa | Flying Coach | Funny Lily (2005-2010) Daffy's Crazy Bus (2000-2004) |
Water rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crazy River | 1994 | Mack Rides | Log Flume |
| El Rio Grande | 1994 | Vekoma | River Rapids |
| Splash Battle | 2005 | Preston & Barbieri | Interactive Boat Ride |
Former rides / attractions
| Name | Opened | Closed | Manufacturer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aztec | 2000 | 2009 | HUSS | Rainbow | Demolished due to other Rainbows having issues. |
| Boris Klauter Island | 2005 | 2010 | Playground | ||
| Double Inverter | 2000 | 2004 | Chance | Looping Ship | Moved to Walibi Rhone Alps |
| El Toro | 2000 | 2006 | HUSS | Breakdance | Moved to Bellewaerde |
| Flying Dutchman Gold Mine | 2000 | 2010 | Mack Rides | Steel Wild Mouse Coaster | Moved to La Mer de Sable as Tiger Express |
| Kids Playground | 2005 | 2013 | Soft Play | Petanque | Boris Factory Balls (2005-2010) |
| Safari | 1982? | 1999 | Whirlgig | ||
| Sherwood's Revenge | 1995 | 2006 | HUSS | Tri-Star | Moved to La Mer de Sable as Peroke |
| Tornado | 2000 | 2004 | Chance | Chaos | Moved to Walibi Aquitaine as Kosmic |
| Hudson Bay | 1994 | 2016 | HUSS | Pirate Ship | Replaced by Lost Gravity |
| Waikki Wave | 1995 | 1999 | Vekoma | Waikiki Wave | Replaced by Excalibur |
| Robin Hood | 2000 | 2018 | Vekoma | Wooden Coaster | Replaced by Untamed |
See also
References
- ^ Marden, Duane. "El Condor (Walibi Holland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
External links
- Walibi Holland Official Website
- Walibi Holland at the Roller Coaster DataBase
- Walibi Holland Fan Page (Dutch)