What does Bart say? – A Theme Park blog!

Bobbejaanland surprised everyone earlier this year by announcing its first-ever winteropening, Bobbejaanland Wintert! On December 6th, Bobbejaanland Wintert kicked off! I was hesitant about buying tickets, after hearing positive reviews about the first couple of weekends I decided to purchase tickets to check out Bobbejaanland Wintert myself. It’s been a while since Bobbejaanland has done something new – their last coaster, Fury, opened in 2019. In 2023 Indiana River reopened as Terra Magma, but that’s all the park has done the last couple of years. Despite the positive reviews I was afraid to visit the park, everyone has a different experience and I was worried it might disappoint, but did it? I’d love to take you with me to Bobbejaanland Wintert in my latest blog.. What does Bart say about.. Bobbejaanland Wintert ❄️

Park hours during Bobbejaanland Wintert are from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, which is notable for Bobbejaanland since the park isn’t usually open later than 6:00 PM during the summer months (except for the Halloween season). I arrived at Bobbejaanland shortly after the park opened, and the first thing that caught my eye was the richly decorated entrance. Bobbejaanland may not have the most beautiful and iconic entrance, but the park has managed to turn it into something beautiful that immediately puts you in the winter spirit. Once inside, Mariah Carey takes you away with her “All I Want for Christmas” and Bobbie is ready to take a photo with you, which I naturally did (Bobbie is one of the park mascots; meet-and-greet times can be found on the website or park map). 

Normally, you can walk straight ahead towards Wonder Garden, but this part of the park is closed during winter. This means you’ll automatically head towards Mystery Bay, which has been renamed Glacier Bay during the winter event. The water attractions in this area are closed, but Bobbejaanland has provided extra attraction capacity with a tube slide, sponsored by Oreo. Notably, this tube slide had significant airtime, and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to slide down a giant Oreo? There is not much additional entertainment to be found in Glacier Bay. However, Glacier Bay is where the Winter Parade begins at 12:30, marking the start of winter activities. The parade passes through the open areas of the park, which, like Glacier Bay, have been renamed during the winter to reflect the winter theme: Desperado City is now Santa City, Land of Legends has become Land of Fire and Ice, and Adventure Valley is renamed Snow Valley.

Santa City, formerly Desperado City, is one of my favorite areas in Bobbejaanland, regardless of the season. The houses in this area are festively decorated with garlands and lights, and the signs on the buildings have been swapped out for winter-themed ones. This part of the park is a real crowd-pleaser and one of the first things that comes to mind when I think about Bobbejaanland. The open houses and food and beverage locations exude a warm Christmas atmosphere, and the staff at the indoor and outdoor catering locations ensure that you feel more than welcome. Santa City really gets going at 2 PM when the entertainment kicks off, with elves who get you involved in all sorts of fun activities before you can meet Santa and score a small gift. Even if you don’t do the activities, the elves are still a blast to interact with – they’re super into it and make sure everyone has a great time. Make sure to stick around for the 4 PM tree lighting ceremony – it’s the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit! After the show, the park really comes alive, the sun sets, and the lights start twinkling, giving the whole place a magical feel.

Bobbejaanland is situated around a large lake, and the park has made good use of it. Something you wouldn’t expect, Bobbejaanland has made it happen: a Chouffe hut and ice skating rink right in the middle of the lake. The Chouffe hut and ice rink are easily accessible via the boardwalks in Glacier Bay and Snow Valley, which ensures a smooth flow of visitors and provides a convenient shortcut across the park, which can be a welcome relief on busy days. While the ice rink opens at 1 PM, the Chouffe hut opens as soon as the park opens. The Chouffe hut is not only a place to warm up, it also lets you see the park from a different perspective, which was especially fun for me as a roller coaster enthusiast! If you follow my blog for a while, you probably know it’s not wise for me to put on ice skates, so I decided not to venture onto the ice rink. However, I did visit the Chouffe hut. Enjoying a beer in a unique location with a view of the roller coasters is a dream come true for any beer and roller coaster fan! Bobbejaanland has once again shown what they’re capable of, and some neighboring parks could definitely learn from this.

The investment of 1.5 million euros in 800 Christmas trees, kilometers of lights, and extra entertainment has clearly paid off for the park. The staff seemed to be having a great time, both in the food and beverage, attractions, and entertainment. All announced open attractions were operational, and queue times throughout the day were no longer than 15-20 minutes. With Bobbejaanland Wintert, the park has shown what it’s capable of, and for the first time, they’ve put on a really good event. Earlier, it seemed like the park was standing still, but it looks like Bobbejaanland is finally getting the attention and love it deserves. Not just with this new winter event, but also with a new themed area in 2027, Bobbejaanland is being put back in the spotlight, and that’s completely deserved. While Bobbejaanland isn’t necessarily a park I want to visit every year, it would be interesting to visit more often if the park continues to host events like this in other seasons. I’m curious to see what Bobbejaanland has in store for the coming years. One thing is certain: everyone who worked on Bobbejaanland Wintert should be proud of themselves.

Ready for some nighttime thrill rides on your favorite coasters and enjoying the park’s winter wonderland? You’ve still got time – the fun lasts until January 4, 2026 (just a heads up that the park is closed on December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026)!

As 2025 wraps up, I want to wish you a fantastic holiday season and a great start to 2026!

Bart