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Bobbejaanland

- FEEL YOUNG AGAIN -

THE STORY

THE EARLY DAYS IN THE SIXTIES

The story of Bobbejaanland is a remarkable tale of the man, the music, and the myth of Bobbejaan Schoepen.  Family man, musician, entrepreneur and visionary leader in the world of European amusement parks.  Bobbejaan was a legendary Flemish singer, guitarist, and entertainer who enjoyed international popularity in the 50s and early 60s.  Equal parts artist and entrepreneur, he built the park from scratch as a testament to his life’s work.  In addition to entertaining audiences, Bobbejaan the businessman was one of the first men in the world to build his own entertainment palace.  A place for everyone to gather and celebrate music!  Bobbejaanland.   

In 1959, Bobbejaan Schoepen bought a marshy domain of 30 hectares in the village of Lichtaart (Kasterlee), near Antwerp in Belgium.  His neighbors almost declared him crazy when they discovered the grandiose plans he had to transform this swampy marshland.  He had the site dredged, built a concert hall with 1,000 seats and laid a swimming pond with 2.2 kilometers of beach next to it.  On December 31, 1961, the park was officially opened by Bobbejaan Schoepen himself and his wife, Josée Jongen.

FROM THEATRE TO THE PARK

For its first decade, the park’s main features were centered on water attractions and performance spaces for cabaret style shows.  Numerous artists and entertainers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany performed there to rave reviews.  From 1975 onwards, Bobbejaanland evolved into a theme park, with rides becoming the central focus and attracting thrill seekers from all over Europe.  It grew to fifty attractions with four hundred employees and received visitors from the Benelux countries, France and Germany.  By the end of the 70s, Bobbejaan’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.

From the early 90s, three of Bobbejaan’s five children joined the family business and committed themselves fully to the park.  His son, Jacky Schoepen was the driving force and entrepreneurial spirit that pioneered new rides, attractions and loop-the-loop roller coasters.  Jacky worked his way up the company and eventually took the reins as CEO.  He was a risk taker who deeply understood the need to evolve the family friendly brand and develop revolutionary new concepts.  Under Jacky’s leadership, Bobbejaanland became the first theme park in the world to deploy environmentally friendly attractions like a striking seventy-meter-tall wind turbine (2002) that provides energy in the region and connects to a museum showcasing alternative energy production.

THE FUTURE

In 1999, Bobbejaan Schoepen was diagnosed with colon cancer, which only motivated him to work harder and leave a lasting legacy of his life’s work.  In the winter of 2003, he made an investment of almost 12 million euros for ground-breaking new rides like Typhoon and Sledgehammer, attractions that deliver a highly marketable thrill factor with broad audience appeal.  The decision to sell the park was made in April of 2004, after more than three years of negotiations.  Bobbejaanland was taken over by Parques Reunidos, a Spanish-American amusement park group.  Uncertainty over the future of the amusement park business was ultimately the deciding factor to sell.  The Schoepen family chose the more certain path, which also seemed evident to the founder.

Bobbejaan Schoepen was the founder, CEO and creative visionary behind the artistic attractions of the park, his wife Josée (the eldest of eighteen children) was the COO and operations leader while her sister Louise (Wies) was the CFO and financial expert. The key to success of this family business lay in the bond of trust within this triumvirate and in their work ethic, which was reinforced by three of the five children from the 90s onwards.  With the sale of Bobbejaanland, the last family owned and operated theme park business disappeared in Belgium.  Bobbejaan Schoepen and his wife lived on the property until their death…

BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS

In early 2017, artist & concert promoter Hugo Foets revealed his plans to immerse the legendary park in the atmosphere and nostalgia of the past.  To overlay a retro theme and transform the park into a magical place that celebrates the music of your youth.  CEO at Bobbejaanland, Yves Peeters was the first believer of this unique retro project.  He welcomed and embraced the retro festival.  The Schoepen family was also informed of the project from the early days.  The children of the iconic duo, Bobbejaan and José, were particularly enthusiastic.  With the magic of music and decoration, no less than 7 stages spread over the entire park, national and international stars, and a unique retro atmosphere, the good old days were back again. 

The debut of the retro festival struck a chord and resonated strongly with fans.  Almost 5,000 music lovers from all over Europe showed up to enjoy an entire day of music and nostalgia.  In terms of decor, the park was transformed into a magical place called 100% RETRO.  With tributes to legendary artists like The Bee Gees, The Beatles and Elvis Presley.  Famous European stars like Frans Bauer from The Netherlands and international icons like American singer and actress, Ellen Foley wowed audiences.  From England, renowned garage rock band the Troggs and legendary 70s band, The Rubettes were headliners.  A special tribute to Bobbejaan Schoepen could not be missed.  The nostalgic theatre that was opened in 1961 was “the place to be” and it was Bobbejaan’s son Jacky, who presented the first lifetime achievement award.

100% RETRO... FEEL YOUNG AGAIN

From day one, the retro festival formed a unique collaboration with Bobbejaanland to celebrate the music and artists of the 60s, 70s and 80s.  To experience the nostalgia and live the retro lifestyle!  100% RETRO radio station was specially created to complement the festival by playing the songs, promoting the artists, and marketing this exclusive event.  There’s one element that unites the theme park, radio station and the festival…that unique experience of feeling young again!

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A MAGICAL WORLD

Bobbejaanland has grown into a true concept in entertainment, much more than an amusement park!  With over 40 exciting attractions, there’s something fun for all ages.  Discover activities for the young and for the young at heart. Explore numerous themed areas in the park.  Each themed zone tells a different story.  Are you the type to battle with dragons and witches?  Feel like fighting King Kong?  Or is taming wild rivers more your thing?  Enjoy everything that Bobbejaanland has to offer.    

Step from one magical world into another.  Discover the fun at Adventure Valley, Cowboytown and Land of Legends.  And don’t forget to satisfy your hunger in-between all of your adventures!  Want a quick bite?  Or do you prefer a more extensive menu?  Explore all of the restaurants, eateries and concession stands that cater to everything your heart desires.  Bobbejaanland has goodies that satisfy appetites of all sizes! 

MORE THAN AN AMUSEMENT PARK

During Halloween, the park is immersed in a magical world of haunted houses, ghosts and goblins, witches and wizards, with the most fabulous horrors and spooky delights!  Feel young again and celebrate the scariest time of year at Bobbejaanland, one of the most beautiful Halloween experiences in Western Europe, 15 years running.

Your visit to Bobbejaanland will be truly unforgettable!  Remember all the fun with a unique souvenir from one of the many gift shops around the park.  Take home a memento of the festivities and relive your memories with a cowboy hat, fun merchandise and more. Bobbejaanland… so much more than an amusement park!

THE STORY

THE EARLY DAYS IN THE SIXTIES

The story of Bobbejaanland is a remarkable tale of the man, the music, and the myth of Bobbejaan Schoepen.  Family man, musician, entrepreneur and visionary leader in the world of European amusement parks.  Bobbejaan was a legendary Flemish singer, guitarist, and entertainer who enjoyed international popularity in the 50s and early 60s.  Equal parts artist and entrepreneur, he built the park from scratch as a testament to his life’s work.  In addition to entertaining audiences, Bobbejaan the businessman was one of the first men in the world to build his own entertainment palace.  A place for everyone to gather and celebrate music!  Bobbejaanland.   

In 1959, Bobbejaan Schoepen bought a marshy domain of 30 hectares in the village of Lichtaart (Kasterlee), near Antwerp in Belgium.  His neighbors almost declared him crazy when they discovered the grandiose plans he had to transform this swampy marshland.  He had the site dredged, built a concert hall with 1,000 seats and laid a swimming pond with 2.2 kilometers of beach next to it.  On December 31, 1961, the park was officially opened by Bobbejaan Schoepen himself and his wife, Josée Jongen.

FROM THEATRE TO THE PARK

For its first decade, the park’s main features were centered on water attractions and performance spaces for cabaret style shows.  Numerous artists and entertainers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany performed there to rave reviews.  From 1975 onwards, Bobbejaanland evolved into a theme park, with rides becoming the central focus and attracting thrill seekers from all over Europe.  It grew to fifty attractions with four hundred employees and received visitors from the Benelux countries, France and Germany.  By the end of the 70s, Bobbejaan’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.

From the early 90s, three of Bobbejaan’s five children joined the family business and committed themselves fully to the park.  His son, Jacky Schoepen was the driving force and entrepreneurial spirit that pioneered new rides, attractions and loop-the-loop roller coasters.  Jacky worked his way up the company and eventually took the reins as CEO.  He was a risk taker who deeply understood the need to evolve the family friendly brand and develop revolutionary new concepts.  Under Jacky’s leadership, Bobbejaanland became the first theme park in the world to deploy environmentally friendly attractions like a striking seventy-meter-tall wind turbine (2002) that provides energy in the region and connects to a museum showcasing alternative energy production.

THE FUTURE

In 1999, Bobbejaan Schoepen was diagnosed with colon cancer, which only motivated him to work harder and leave a lasting legacy of his life’s work.  In the winter of 2003, he made an investment of almost 12 million euros for ground-breaking new rides like Typhoon and Sledgehammer, attractions that deliver a highly marketable thrill factor with broad audience appeal.  The decision to sell the park was made in April of 2004, after more than three years of negotiations.  Bobbejaanland was taken over by Parques Reunidos, a Spanish-American amusement park group.  Uncertainty over the future of the amusement park business was ultimately the deciding factor to sell.  The Schoepen family chose the more certain path, which also seemed evident to the founder.

Bobbejaan Schoepen was the founder, CEO and creative visionary behind the artistic attractions of the park, his wife Josée (the eldest of eighteen children) was the COO and operations leader while her sister Louise (Wies) was the CFO and financial expert. The key to success of this family business lay in the bond of trust within this triumvirate and in their work ethic, which was reinforced by three of the five children from the 90s onwards.  With the sale of Bobbejaanland, the last family owned and operated theme park business disappeared in Belgium.  Bobbejaan Schoepen and his wife lived on the property until their death…

BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS

In early 2017, artist & concert promoter Hugo Foets revealed his plans to immerse the legendary park in the atmosphere and nostalgia of the past.  To overlay a retro theme and transform the park into a magical place that celebrates the music of your youth.  CEO at Bobbejaanland, Yves Peeters was the first believer of this unique retro project.  He welcomed and embraced the retro festival.  The Schoepen family was also informed of the project from the early days.  The children of the iconic duo, Bobbejaan and José, were particularly enthusiastic.  With the magic of music and decoration, no less than 7 stages spread over the entire park, national and international stars, and a unique retro atmosphere, the good old days were back again. 

The debut of the retro festival struck a chord and resonated strongly with fans.  Almost 5,000 music lovers from all over Europe showed up to enjoy an entire day of music and nostalgia.  In terms of decor, the park was transformed into a magical place called 100% RETRO.  With tributes to legendary artists like The Bee Gees, The Beatles and Elvis Presley.  Famous European stars like Frans Bauer from The Netherlands and international icons like American singer and actress, Ellen Foley wowed audiences.  From England, renowned garage rock band the Troggs and legendary 70s band, The Rubettes were headliners.  A special tribute to Bobbejaan Schoepen could not be missed.  The nostalgic theatre that was opened in 1961 was “the place to be” and it was Bobbejaan’s son Jacky, who presented the first lifetime achievement award.

100% RETRO... FEEL YOUNG AGAIN

From day one, the retro festival formed a unique collaboration with Bobbejaanland to celebrate the music and artists of the 60s, 70s and 80s.  To experience the nostalgia and live the retro lifestyle!  100% RETRO radio station was specially created to complement the festival by playing the songs, promoting the artists, and marketing this exclusive event.  There’s one element that unites the theme park, radio station and the festival…that unique experience of feeling young again!

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A MAGICAL WORLD

Bobbejaanland has grown into a true concept in entertainment, much more than an amusement park!  With over 40 exciting attractions, there’s something fun for all ages.  Discover activities for the young and for the young at heart. Explore numerous themed areas in the park.  Each themed zone tells a different story.  Are you the type to battle with dragons and witches?  Feel like fighting King Kong?  Or is taming wild rivers more your thing?  Enjoy everything that Bobbejaanland has to offer.    

Step from one magical world into another.  Discover the fun at Adventure Valley, Cowboytown and Land of Legends.  And don’t forget to satisfy your hunger in-between all of your adventures!  Want a quick bite?  Or do you prefer a more extensive menu?  Explore all of the restaurants, eateries and concession stands that cater to everything your heart desires.  Bobbejaanland has goodies that satisfy appetites of all sizes! 

MORE THAN AN AMUSEMENT PARK

During Halloween, the park is immersed in a magical world of haunted houses, ghosts and goblins, witches and wizards, with the most fabulous horrors and spooky delights!  Feel young again and celebrate the scariest time of year at Bobbejaanland, one of the most beautiful Halloween experiences in Western Europe, 15 years running.

Your visit to Bobbejaanland will be truly unforgettable!  Remember all the fun with a unique souvenir from one of the many gift shops around the park.  Take home a memento of the festivities and relive your memories with a cowboy hat, fun merchandise and more. Bobbejaanland… so much more than an amusement park!

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