Bellewaerde
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Bellewaerde is on the Meenseweg in Ypres, in West Flanders. On these pages you can read all about the attractions, the animals, the food, the events, the Bellewaerde Aquapark water park and how to get there.
Discover Bellewaerde
What kind of park is it?
Bellewaerde calls itself three adventures in one day: a theme park, an animal park and a nature park. You'll find over thirty attractions for young and old, more than 130 animals and more than 50 hectares of greenery with flowers, trees and footpaths.
Thrill-seekers can head for Boomerang and the Screaming Eagle drop tower. Families go for the Wakala family coaster, the Amazonia water ride or Dawson Duel, where you race against each other. On the Bengal Express you ride between the lions and Amur tigers. The park has been around since 1954: the Bloemenkasteel was built in 1994 for its fortieth anniversary.
How is the park laid out?
Bellewaerde has seven zones:
- Mundo Amazonia: an abandoned mining town in the Amazon rainforest, with Amazonia and Rio Do Café.
- Mexico: Latin atmosphere and thrills, with Boomerang, Huracan and El Volador.
- Jungle: the Jungle Mission boat ride and animals such as flamingos, capybaras and squirrel monkeys.
- Savanne: giraffes, zebras and lemurs, a peaceful spot in the park.
- KidsPark: twelve child-sized attractions and the Palendorp.
- India: the lions, Amur tigers and Amur leopards, with the Bengal Express and Bengal Rapid River.
- Canada: forests and a large lake, with Wakala, Niagara, Screaming Eagle and the new Seesaw Swing.
Opening times:
During Bellewaerde Kerst the park is open from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 inclusive, from 11:00 to 19:00. In early December it's open at weekends only; on 24 and 31 December until 17:00. The park is closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Prices:
A dated ticket costs from €40.50 online (1.40 metres and taller); the price varies by day. An undated ticket costs €50, or €45 for children from 1 to 1.40 metres. Children under 1 metre go free (as of November 2026).
Bellewaerde Aquapark:
Next to the park is Bellewaerde Aquapark, a subtropical pool with slides, play zones and wellness. It's open almost all year round.
New in Canada: Seesaw Swing and Timber Trail
In 2026 the Canada zone got a major makeover. The eye-catcher is the Seesaw Swing, according to the park the biggest swing in the world: 24 riders soar up to 14.5 metres above the lake. Next to it is Timber Trail, a 400-metre wooden adventure course above the water, with an easy route for little ones and a challenging one for daredevils.
The The Canadian Burger restaurant, right on the big lake, was also completely renovated.
Animals and nature
Bellewaerde is also a fully fledged animal park. You'll see lions, Amur tigers, Amur leopards, Rothschild's giraffes, Grévy's zebras, ring-tailed lemurs and flamingos, among others. Many of these animals are part of European breeding programmes for endangered species. Read more on our Animals page.
Between all the attractions you stroll through a green park with flowerbeds and big trees. The showpiece is the Bloemenkasteel, decorated every year with more than 200,000 summer flowers.
Buy your ticket online
A dated ticket bought online is the cheapest option. The earlier you book, the lower the price. Booking ahead is no longer compulsory.
Use the app
In the free Bellewaerde app you can see the park map, waiting times and the times of the shows and animal training sessions.
Rain insurance
Worried about bad weather? For an extra €3 you can add rain insurance to your ticket (as of November 2026).