Plopsaland Belgium (previously Plopsaland De Panne) is a theme park located in Adinkerke, Belgium, in the municipality of De Panne, and owned and operated by Plopsa. The park was originally known as Meli Park from 1935 to 1999, before reopening as Plopsaland on 20 April 2000.
History Meli Park
In 1935, Alberic-Joseph Florizoone opened Meli Park as a place where he could sell his home-produced honey and also teach visitors about the process and the honey bee itself. To keep up with competition, over the years the park opened several attractions, turning it into a theme park.
Plopsaland The Florizoone family sold the park in 1999 to Studio 100 and VMMa. The park received a makeover during the following winter season, to reopen as Plopsaland on 20 April 2000. During the renovation several characters from Studio 100, such as Samson en Gert and Kabouter Plop, were used to theme new and old attractions. The new park had some issues at reopening with parking capacity and catering, though these were corrected in the following years.
Studio 100/Plopsa bought out the shares of VVMa in 2005 and became sole owner of the park, with plans to turn it into a multi-day, all-weather resort. In that same year, Plopsa opened Plopsa Indoor Hasselt and bought Telecoo, to avoid confusion with the other parks Plopsaland was renamed to Plopsaland De Panne.
Besides expanding the site into a resort, Plopsa also kept expanding the theme park with Anubis the Ride (2009), Vic the Vicking-land (2013), Heidi the Ride (2017) , The Ride to Happiness (2021) and Circus Bumba(2023) in order to appeal to a wider demographic and become a destination not just for families with younger children.
In the summer of 2025, the park was renamed from Plopsaland De Panne to Plopsaland Belgium, in line with the other parks in the Plopsa group.
Attractions The park consists of 55 attractions, including 7 rollercoasters.
Rollercoasters NameOfficial English nameEnglish names as found on the official park website.TypeManufacturerDescription and additional informationOpenedSpecificationsPhotoThe Ride to Happiness by TomorrowlandThe Ride to Happiness by TomorrowlandExtreme Spinning CoasterMack RidesThis is the first Mack Extreme Spinning Coaster in Europe.2021Speed: 90 km/h Length: 920m
Height: 35mAnubis The RideAnubis The RideLaunched coasterGerstlauer2009Speed: 90 km/h Length: 600m
Height: 34mHeidi The RideHeidi The RideWooden coasterGreat Coasters International2017Speed: 71 km/h Length: 618m
Height: 22mDraconisDraconisPowered coasterMack RidesRenamed from De Draak (The Dragon) to Draconis at the start of the 2025 season.2004Speed: 36 km/h Length: 450m
Height: 14mSuperSplashSuperSplashSuper SplashMack Rides2006Speed: 70 km/h Height: 30mK3 Roller SkaterK3 Roller SkaterJunior coasterVekoma1991Speed: 46 km/h Length: 335m
Height: 13m#LikeMe Coaster#LikeMe CoasterTivoli LargeZiererRenovated in 2022 after the youth series #LikeMe. The station is now designed as a school from the series.1976Speed: 34 km/h Length: 360m
Height: 8m
Darkrides NameOfficial English nameTypeManufacturerDescription and additional informationOpenedPhotoOp Reis Met BumbaBumba's World TripDarkrideMetallbau EmmelnBased on the popular Belgian children's TV show "Bumba". Part of the new for 2023 "Circus Bumba" indoor area.2023Het Bos van PlopPlop's WoodsDarkrideMetallbau EmmelnBoat trip through a forest full of gnomes.1979 (Apirama) 2000 (Bos van Plop)
Other attractions NameOfficial English nameTypeManufacturerDescription and additional informationOpenedPhotoWickie's WervelwindVic's WhirlwindWild SwingART EngineeringPart of "Wickieland", based on Vic the Viking.2025BumballoonBumballoonSamba BalloonZamperlaPart of the new for 2023 "Circus Bumba" indoor area.2023De Dolle BusritThe Crazy BusCrazy BusZamperlaPart of the new for 2023 "Circus Bumba" indoor area.2023Tumbi's BallenbadTumbi's Ball PoolBall poolPart of the new for 2023 "Circus Bumba" indoor area.2023Poppa's KlimtorenPoppa's Climbing TowerPlaygroundPart of the new for 2023 "Circus Bumba" indoor area.2023Bumba's SpeeltuinBumba's PlaygroundPlayground2008Tik TakTik TakFree flow boat rideMack RidesRenovated in 2022. Previously known as "De Vaat" and "Kaatje zoekt Eendje".2000Balloon RaceBalloon RaceBalloon RaceZamperla2001De Tuin van BigBig's GardenPlayground2005DinoSplashDinoSplashLog flumeMack RidesRenovated in 2019 to a dinosaur theme.1989Mega Mindy JetskiMega Mindy Jet-skiJet SkisZierer2008Nachtwacht-FlyerNachtwacht-FlyerStarflyerFuntime2006De PloptuinPlop's GardenPlaygroundRenovated in 2010.1984Plopsa ExpressPlopsa ExpressTrain rideChance RidesHas 2 trains and 4 stations around the park.1983SafariSafariCar rideSartori Montagnana1992Storm op ZeeStorm At SeaMusic ExpressMack Rides2001De DierenmolenThe Animal CarouselFarm Animals CarrouselWooddesign2017De DoorloopweideThe Animal FarmPetting zoo2007Het BallenbadThe Ball BathBall poolPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011Big & Betsy HoeveThe Big & Betsy FarmFarm / zooMeli Park bought the farm in 1986.UnknownDe Grote GolfThe Big WaveDisk'O CoasterZamperlaPart of "Wickieland", based on Vic the Viking.2013De EmmerThe BucketSplash pad2007ScooterThe Bumper CarsBumper carsBertazzonUnknownDe GlijbaanThe ChuteSlideMetallbau EmmelnPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011De KlimboomThe Climbing TreePlaygroundPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011De KoffiekopjesThe Coffee CupsTeacups rideMack RidesRenovated in 2015. During this renovation, the attraction was completely covered by a castle.2003De Dansende FonteinenThe Dancing FountainsSplash pad2001De EendenThe DucksDuck RoundaboutMetallbau Emmeln2000De ValtorenThe Falling TowerFamily free fall towerZiererPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011De BloemenmolenThe Flowery Merry-go-RoundFlying FishZiererPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee. A special song was written for this attraction.2011De Vliegende FietsenThe Flying BikesMagic BikesZamperla2008De KikkersThe FrogsJump AroundZamperla2007CarrouselThe Merry-go-RoundCarrouselWooddesign2004WaterfietsenThe Pedal BoatsPedal BoatsIn 2012, the standard boats were replaced by pedal boats in the shape of swans.1995De PiratenbootThe Pirate ShipPirate ShipHUSS Park Attractions1981De PiratenspeeltuinThe Pirates' PlaygroundPlayground2006De konijntjesThe RabbitsPonytrekkingMetallbau Emmeln2007Het VlotThe RaftRaftPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011Het SpinnenwebThe Spider's WebPlaygroundPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011De HangbrugThe Suspension BridgeSuspension bridgeKaiser & Kuhne1995De SwingboomThe Swinging TreeKontikiZiererPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011De TractorsThe TractorsCar rideMetallbau Emmeln2002Het VerkeersparkThe Traffic ParkDriving school2000De WaterleliesThe Water LiliesDemolition DerbyZamperlaPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011Wickie The BattleWickie The BattleSplash BattleMack RidesPart of "Wickieland", based on Vic the Viking.2013WienerwalzWienerwalzWave swingWooddesign2015Willies SpeeltuinWilly's PlaygroundPlaygroundPart of the indoor area "Mayaland", based on Maya the Bee.2011
De Panne resort
The theme park is part of the larger Plopsa resort that consist of Mayaland, an indoor theme park (2011), the Studio 100 Theater (2013), Plopsaqua De Panne (2015), a hotel (2021) and a camping (2021/2022). The resort also houses the headquarters of the Plopsa-group.
Visitor numbers Below is an overview of the development of Plopsaland visitor numbers, as stated in the annual report. YearVisitors20111.221.108 20121.176.639 20131.222.169 20141.280.947 20151.276.302 20161.353.162 20171.398.172 20181.209.512
Trivia
The name Plopsaland is an aggregation of the first two Studio 100 characters Plop and Samson. Another name that the new owners thought of was Pannadine after the town De Panne, this name was abandoned after the new owners discovered it was a medical creme. From 2000 until 2012 the park - and the other parks of the group - had Koning Plopsa as icon. In recent years the character was taken out of the logo's, parkshows and as a walk-around character. At various places around the resort the icon can still be found.
References
External links Plopsaland Official Website