Waterparks in the Low Countries

February 9th, 2026

Since the late 1960s, with the rise of Sporthuis Centrum (now Center Parcs), the Netherlands has had a significant presence in the world of indoor water parks.

_{Image: Marco van Middelkoop}

Below is a timeline that takes me on a hop, skip, and jump through history. From the pioneering Sporthuis Centrum in the 1960s and 1970s to the upcoming state-of-the-art Pairi Daiza Waterpark (which I was fortunate enough to help develop). And with many familiar and lesser-known stops along the way.

I don’t pretend to be complete here, but I’d be happy to hear any additions or comments!

The beginning (the 1960s)
Swimming pools opened in various municipalities in the Netherlands, which would later develop into regional indoor swimming paradises such as the Golfbad Oss and the Tongelreep in Eindhoven.

Sporthuis Centrum (around 1970)
As Center Parcs was then known, it opened its first resorts with subtropical swimming pools featuring slides, wave pools, and lush landscaping. Unique in the world.

Tiki Pool & Aqualibi (the 1980s) |
Duinrell’s Tiki Pool opens in the Netherlands, and Walibi’s Aqualibi water park opens in Belgium. Both serve as second-gate parks alongside the existing theme parks, making both destinations suitable for multi-day visits.

Center Parcs (the 1980s)
After the opening of a second wave of water parks in the 1980s, Sporthuis Centrum expanded internationally and changed its name to Center Parcs.

The Wildwater Ride (1986)
The first whitewater ride in the Heijderbos forest proved to be a great success after its construction, leading to the concept being rolled out to almost all Center Parcs parks.

Tropicana (1988)
Center Parcs opened a beautiful stand-alone subtropical swimming paradise in Rotterdam. This pool closed permanently in 2010 after a series of incidents.

Grandorado (1990s)
Grandorado emerged as a competitor to Center Parcs with parks like Loohorst, Weerterbergen, Zandvoort, and Port Zélande. In 2001, Center Parcs acquired (part of) Grandorado.

Regional Water Paradises Part 1 (the 1990s)
Several regional water paradises opened in the Netherlands that resembled the water park concept, such as Sportiom (1998), De Scheg (1993), and Mosaqua (1992).

Preston Palace (1997)
This untypically Dutch all-in-one holiday and entertainment resort, including the Riviera subtropical swimming paradise, opens in Almelo.

Sportoase (2005)
Special features: This is a water park with an incredibly good attraction lineup! The park has more than 40 attractions and slides and is one of the largest water parks in Quebec.

Lago (2011)
LAGO is an innovative Belgian chain of subtropical swimming paradises and recreational pools, featuring not only dedicated pools but also water slides, whitewater rapids, and wave pools. Lago currently has 12 locations throughout Belgium. Both Lago and Sportoase are successful examples of public-private partnerships.

Aqua Mexicana (2015)
Slagharen Amusement Park opens an indoor-outdoor swimming paradise with a Mexican theme, featuring 10 slides. Admission to this swimming paradise is included in the ticket price and with a stay at the resort.

Regional Swimming Paradises Part 2 (from 2015)
Starting in 2015, a major renovation of the Dutch swimming pool landscape began, with several pools moving closer to becoming water parks. These include Swimfun in Joure (2015), the Watergeus in Zoetermeer (2024), and the Welle in Drachten (2025).

Plopsaqua (2015 & 2019)
Plopsaqua is a water park concept from the Belgian company Studio 100, with two locations in Belgium designed as themed swimming paradises. A third location in Belgium was cancelled in 2025.

Hof van Saksen (2017-2023)
In the Netherlands, the renovated resort water park Hof van Saksen opens its doors with enormous, iconic water attractions. This water park is home to the Netherlands’ first and only 4-person tube slide, Bombo.

Bellewaerde Aquapark (2017)
Roompot (the 2020s)
Roompot merges with Landal (2023) and grows with small-scale water parks featuring an increasing number of slides, such as Nieuwvliet-Bad, Roompot Beach Resort, and Parc Aquadelta.

Roompot (de jaren’20)
Roompot gaat samen met Landal (2023) en groeit met kleinschalige zwemparadijzen waar steeds meer glijbanen te vinden zijn zoals bijvoorbeeld Nieuwvliet-Bad, Roompot Beach Resort en Parc Aquadelta. Landal exploiteert een aantal wat oudere parken die een zwemparadijs hebben zoals Het Vennebos en de Lommerbergen.

Pairi Daiza Aquapark (2027)
This Belgian zoo hopes to open a water park in 2027 as part of the gigantic Edenya tropical greenhouse with world-class slides and attractions.