It’s honestly a bit absurd how many theme parks the Netherlands now boasts. In every corner of the country, I think you can reach a place for some whirling and waving within an hour’s drive. But hey, there’s always room for one more. And so, over the past few years, hard work has been underway in Groenlo, Gelderland, on yet another destination: Bommelworld. Now, with the doors open for just over a month, it was high time to go and take a look.
So last Saturday was the day, and bright and early we hopped in the car with Dan and Ralf. After a good two-hour drive through a landscape mostly shrouded in mist, we finally arrived at the gates of the new park. We had signed up for this visit via the Pretpark.club Meetup, which meant a fun program was lined up. A few other members had already gathered in the parking lot. We had to wait a little while before we could go in, so we filled the time with plenty of handshakes, “good to see you again”s, and new introductions.
When the time came, we headed inside. In the beautifully decorated entrance hall, Sir Bumble and Tom Puss were already there to greet us. Group photos were taken, and not long after, we moved on to a nearby event hall for the official welcome, accompanied by coffee and cake. Badges were handed out, and we were given an overview of the day: the schedule, a chance to browse the Bommel Museum, and a short behind-the-scenes tour. Lunch would follow, and then we’d have the rest of the day to explore the park at our own pace.
With the pie polished off, we made our way to the museum section of Bommelworld. On the top floor of the entrance hall, you’ll now find the collection from the former Bommelzolder museum in Zoeterwoude. A sizeable collection of comic books, posters, drawings, puzzles, and all sorts of other items related to the work of Marten Toonder. A real treat to browse through and marvel at how much merchandise already existed all those years ago.
Then it was time for the tour. Understandably, we weren’t allowed to take photos during this part of the visit. The only exception was the lookout point at the highest spot in the building. This space, originally intended as a break room and emergency shelter, offered a lovely overview of the entire hall. But since the staircase leading up to it is quite steep, and much of the staff consists of volunteers and retirees, they eventually deemed the spot less suitable. So the room now stands empty—save for a bit of equipment. And “empty” was kind of the theme of the tour.
Empty, because the Bommelworld crew—as they told us during the tour—already has solid plans for the future and took those into account during construction. In addition to spaces that could serve as offices, there were also two rather large empty ballrooms—staying in the castle theme here—that might one day house a beautiful dark ride. Let’s hope so. Because based on what we’ve seen so far, I’m rooting for them. Their ambitions are modest; they certainly don’t aim to become a park like Toverland. But in terms of execution, it can definitely be called grand. The passion and respect for Marten Toonder’s legacy were palpable.
After that little behind-the-scenes peek, it was already noon, and we found ourselves back in the event hall. A tasty bowl of soup, sandwiches, and croquettes awaited us—and they were more than welcome. With the early start and long drive, breakfast had been extra early too. Hunger had definitely set in.
And then it was finally time to properly enter the park. As a visitor, you’re immediately faced with a choice. Which way do you go? You can enter the park in three ways: via a stately staircase, a gently sloping corridor around it, or the slide. You can probably guess which option we chose… and… well… it was a bit awkward. It had already made the local news: the slide didn’t slide… The solution? Use mats. Totally fine, except the mats were at the bottom. So it was down the stairs, up the stairs, and then slide down. Still a super fun entrance, but hopefully Bommelworld will eventually make it so you can actually slide straight into the park. How cool would that be!
From there, we made a counterclockwise loop through the park. First stop: the “Magical Emporium,” the spooky apothecary of Pocus Pas. A delightfully charming funhouse with all the classic elements: wobbly floors, spinning tunnels, a mirror maze, and funhouse mirrors. We exited via a twisty slide, tears of laughter still in our eyes.
After that, we simply soaked up the atmosphere. This part of the park is set up like a cozy village square, with something to discover in every little house. Most of it is clearly aimed at kids, so we mostly just enjoyed the ambiance. Because let’s be honest—if you’re a coaster enthusiast, you visit parks like this mainly for one thing: to tick off that one coaster tucked away in a corner.
And yes indeed, in the back left corner of the park stood the Netherlands’ newest addition: the “Bulderbaan,” built by Vekoma. After one ride, the three of us agreed: a solid new addition. Nicely themed and, for a park that mainly targets younger kids, a coaster with a bit of punch.
After that experience, we continued soaking up the atmosphere, mostly by watching others brave the mini flume “Raging Rummage” and get thoroughly soaked. After enjoying that, we strolled on—chatting about our impressions of the park—toward the “Bommel Boutique.” Going home empty-handed just wouldn’t do. In the charming little shop, you’ll find all sorts of Bommel and Tom Puss goodies, but the choice was quickly made. After paying, I was the proud owner of a Bommel Beer gift pack… It’s a bit of a shame they don’t sell a polished-up version of the “If You Know What I Mean” movie in the shop. A film that’s stuck with me since childhood. Hopefully, it’ll hit the shelves someday.
By now, it was late in the afternoon, and our relaxed visit was slowly coming to an end. But not before we ducked into the theater for a show featuring Olivier B. Bumble and Tom Puss. Exciting! Sir Bumble had lost the key to the castle and couldn’t lock it at night. Which, of course, was something the crooks Bul Super and Hiep Hieper might take advantage of. So Tom Puss was quickly called in to help search the castle for the key. The key was soon found—it had been hanging on a chain around Sir Bumble’s back the whole time. But try explaining that to the stubborn old Sir Bumble. The kids in the audience were in stitches.
With peace of mind that the key was found, it was time for us to head home with a positive impression. Bommelworld has become a truly charming park, and definitely a fun destination for parents with kids looking for a day of whirling and waving. If you find yourself near Groenlo, be sure to check it out. And from this spot, a big thank you and kudos to the Pretpark.club crew for yet another fantastic meetup! It was a blast!
