After fourteen years of delays, rebrandings and financial turmoil, the theme park project on Rotterdam’s south side is finally preparing to open its gates.
The destination, now known as Spelen bij Beelen, will welcome its first visitors on July 21. The opening marks the first time the public will be able to enter a site that has become one of the most notorious unfinished projects in the Dutch attractions industry.
The story began in 2012 when entrepreneur Hennie van der Most unveiled plans for a large amusement park on a former industrial site along the Doklaan in Rotterdam-Zuid. What followed was a seemingly endless cycle of construction work, postponed opening dates and changing ambitions. Over the years, the project operated under several different names, including Speelstad Rotterdam, Attractiepark Rotterdam and Rivoli Rotterdam, but never managed to open to paying guests.
Financial difficulties ultimately brought the original vision to a halt. Earlier this year, the site was sold at a public auction after mounting debts forced creditors to take action. Businessman Wim Beelen acquired the property and immediately began reshaping the project.
Rather than attempting to complete the original amusement park concept, the new owner opted for a more realistic and family-oriented approach. Several unused rides were removed, including a roller coaster that never carried a single passenger. Other large attractions disappeared as the site was transformed into a play park aimed primarily at children.
Not everything was lost. The park’s most recognizable landmark, a 45-metre Ferris wheel acquired from Walibi Belgium years ago, remains part of the development. After refurbishment and certification, it will reopen under the new name Beelen Eye.
The opening scheduled for July 21 represents only the first phase of the redevelopment. During the first week, local children from surrounding neighbourhoods will be given priority access before the park opens to the wider public. Future plans include additional attractions and a large indoor play facility.
While the opening finally brings life to a project many had written off, questions remain about its long-term future. The site’s current lease agreement runs until the end of 2030, meaning the park’s operators will eventually need to secure an extension if they want to remain at the location.
For now, however, the focus is on a milestone that once seemed increasingly unlikely. Fourteen years after construction first began, Rotterdam’s long-delayed theme park project is finally becoming a functioning visitor attraction.
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