Whether you are young or young at heart, you’ll be bursting with excitement for Bellewaerde Park. The amusement park in Belgium, which includes both Bellewaerde and Bellewaerde Aquapark, is absolutely jam-packed with activities and adventures for the whole family.
Book your trip to the Ypres amusement park today, as the park Mascot, King Lion, might say, you’ll have a roar-some time!
Why Bellewaerde Park is perfect for a family holiday
Bellewaerde Theme Park, around an hour and a half's drive from Calais, is the perfect destination for families who can’t decide on just one thing to do! With action-packed rides, spectacular shows, a zoo, a nature park, a water park, shops and restaurants – there really is something for everyone! There are even free kennels at the entrance for your four-legged friends.
Where is Bellewaerde Park?
Bellewaerde Park is in the Flemish countryside, near Ypres. The theme park is within easy reach of several Belgian cities, making it perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway.
Top things to do at Bellewaerde
With so many things to do at Bellewaerde Park, you’ll want to arrive early to make the most of every second!
Bellewaerde Park
The first of the two sites is Bellewaerde Park itself, head here for the exhilarating amusement park, the fascinating animal park and the relaxing nature park.
Brace yourself on Bellewaerde’s rides and attractions
Bellewaerde is divided into seven fun-filled zones. Travel across the world from the jungle to the savannah and from India to Mexico to enjoy each area’s unique atmosphere and rides. The daredevils in your family will not want to miss the hair-raising rollercoasters, including the Huracan and the aptly named Boomerang that sends you shooting back and forth in terrifying loop-de-loops.
The KidsPark is perfect for little ones. With a whimsical storybook setting, the park is packed with child-sized rides, including a mini Ferris wheel, a carousel, spinning cups, and a train ride. Families will also find two action-packed playgrounds, a 4D cinema experience and themed tours throughout the park
Hold on tight on the Boomerang ride at Bellewaerde park!
CREDIT (Image by djolivier, CC BY-SA 3 via Wikimedia Commons)
Watch spectacular shows and events
You’ll find plenty of edge-of-your-seat entertainment and events throughout the year at Bellewaerde Park! Head to the amusement park during spring to enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt, in the autumn for spookier experiences or during the winter for Christmas-themed magic.
Throughout the year, you can head to zone India to see the heart-stopping Azuria the Next Sultan Stunt and Dive Show. The free show tells the story of Sultan Kuku and the ninjas who steal the Sapphire of Azuria. Watch death-defying dives, dramatic flips and falls for a goosebumps-guaranteed experience!
Get up close to exotic animals
One hundred and thirty animals live in Bellewaerde Zoo! Keep your eyes peeled for the lions, tigers, giraffes and zebras as well as the smaller wallabies, mara and moustached emperor tamarin. As a park with an extensive breeding program, you’re sure to see fluffy cubs and wobbly calves too. Jump aboard the Bengal Express, a train that runs through the lion and tiger enclosures, to get closer than ever to the big cats.
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Dare to get up close to the tigers at Bellewaerde Zoo?
Unwind in Bellewaerde’s nature park
After enjoying the thrilling rides and spectacular shows, spend some time relaxing in the breathtaking nature park. Wander along the trails to step out of the hustle and bustle and take a moment to share your favourite moments from the day. Surrounded by colourful flowers and lush green trees, you’ll want to snap some family photos here. Head to the Flower Castle, a fairytale castle decorated with over 200,000 flowers for a picture-perfect memento!
Bellewaerde Aquapark
The water park is bursting with slides, play zones and wet and wild events. Race your family down the Splash Crash slides or jump into a family-sized inflatable doughnut on the open-air Aquaventure.
In the play zones, get lost in aquatic adventures and imaginative play, spray water pistols, drop buckets, climb walls and cross bridges to defend your fort. For a more relaxing day, head to the aquarium to watch the fish, before unwinding in the sauna and jacuzzi in the Secret Cave. The lawn is the perfect spot to enjoy an afternoon of sunbathing (and snoozing!)
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Ready for a wet and wild ride? Take on the twisting and turning slides at Bellewaerde Aquapark.
CREDIT (Image by Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick / Bellewaerde Aquapark (D21) / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Plan your trip to Bellewaerde theme and aqua parks
Tickets
Theme park
There are a range of tickets for the Bellewaerde theme and aqua parks – high season tickets for the theme park are €43 per person for adults and children over 1 metre in height. Children under 1 metre go free!
Discounted tickets up to the start of the high season (1st July) are €35 per person, and are valid for any day within this period – a feature not usually available when booking theme park tickets.
Aquapark
If you want to specify the date to visit Bellewaerde Aquapark, tickets cost slightly less than undated tickets. Adult tickets (and any child measuring over 140cm) cost €23, while tickets for children between 100-139cm are €20. Children between 85-99cm cost €10. Any child measuring less than 85cm gets free entry to the Aquapark. Senior tickets (people aged over 65) are €19 and disabled tickets are €17.
Undated tickets (valid for any single day during the period until the beginning of the high season) cost slightly more. Group and baby time dated tickets are also available.
Combined
Adventure pass tickets offer unlimited access to both parks during the period when both are open. These cost €129 for a combined Bellewaerde theme and aqua park ticket, and €99 for the theme park.
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The entrance of Bellewaerde Aquapark
(Image credit: Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick / Bellewaerde Aquapark, CC-BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Opening hours and seasons
The theme park opens in early April. High season for the theme park in 2026 runs from 1st July to early September. The theme park is open from 10am to 5pm on weekdays, and 10am to 6pm at weekends and midweek during June. During July and August these hours are extended to 7pm and to 10pm on Saturdays from mid-July to the end of August. The theme park closes for the winter in early January.
Bellewaerde Aquapark is open all year round, but may be closed on some selected days during the winter. The Aquapark’s opening hours vary according to the season, but are generally 10am to 6pm on weekdays and 10 am to 8pm at weekends. High season for the Aquapark starts in early July.
Parking
Car parking can be booked in advance when you buy your Bellewaerde tickets online. Parking costs €13 per day per vehicle. But you can also get a one-year parking pass for up to two vehicles for €33 – so you can visit as many times as you want for no additional cost!
Pets
Pets are not allowed entry to the Aquapark. Dogs are permitted at the Bellewaerde theme park on ‘Dog Days’ – certain specified dates in the season – but owners must register their dogs in advance before their visit.
Clothing and swimwear
You should wear appropriate swimwear for the Aquapark. Don’t forget pool slippers or flip-flops.
How many days to plan for your visit
You should only need one day for your visit to Bellewaerde theme park and Aquapark, but if you think you will want to come back, you can buy combined adventure passes.
The best time to visit Bellewaerde
The parks at Bellewaerde can get busy during the peak summer months, so visiting during the quieter periods in the spring and autumn is always a good idea. You can also benefit from lower priced tickets at these times too.
Drive to Bellewaerde Park from Calais
Driving to Belgium is easy with LeShuttle. The journey from Calais to Bellewaerde Park is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Take the A16 before joining the A25. From there, follow the N38 and N8, looking out for signs directing you to the attraction.
Get to Bellewaerde Park in no time at all with the help of LeShuttle – an even shorter journey of just 35 minutes between Folkestone and Calais.
Top image credit: Image by Druyts.t, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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