What does Bart say? | Theme Parks • Fairs • Attractions

Have you ever heard of Jaderpark? No? To be completely honest, neither had I until just a few weeks ago! While planning my trip towards Hamburg, I was specifically searching for parks located conveniently along my route, an ideal pit stop to break up the long drive. After a bit of digging, I suddenly stumbled upon Jaderpark. The park is nestled in the German town of Jaderberg and is just a short one to one-and-a-half-hour drive from the north of the Netherlands. Coming from the south myself, my journey took quite a bit longer, so a chance to stretch my legs was more than welcome!

Prior to my visit, I deliberately avoided looking up too much information about the park, consciously staying away from online vlogs and photo galleries of Jaderpark. I absolutely love stepping into a new theme park completely blind, without being influenced beforehand by the opinions, expectations, or visuals of others. That way, I can form a 100% genuine and honest impression right there on the spot. The only things I knew were that it features a unique blend of a zoo and an amusement park, and that they happen to be celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. But what the park actually looked like inside and what I could expect in terms of attractions? I had no idea. I went in with an open mind and a healthy dose of curiosity!

Practical Tips for Your Visit: Good to know if you are planning a trip to Jaderpark: both the park itself and the parking lot open their gates at 09:30 AM. This gives you a wonderful opportunity to stroll peacefully past the first animal enclosures before the rides start operating. The attractions begin running at 10:00 AM and take a brief 30-minute break in the afternoon. The exact schedule for this midday pause is clearly marked on the park map and the official Jaderpark website, so be sure to check those in advance so you do not run into a temporarily closed queue line!

A warm welcome among the diverse animal enclosures:
Right upon entering, I immediately noticed how remarkably lush and green the zoo section was, especially for a park situated right in the middle of town and alongside a busy road! It was a wet morning, which usually sounds less than ideal for a theme park visit, but for a stroll through the zoo, it actually turned out to be perfect. Thanks to the crisp rain, most of the animals were super active. Even for someone with the attention span of a goldfish, it was genuinely entertaining to linger around the various enclosures. The animals were truly showing off their very best side. And let’s be honest: that refreshing rain was more than welcome after those scorching weeks prior, when temperatures barely dropped below 25 degrees.

Another thing that stood out right away was how spacious and neat all the enclosures were. What surprised me just as positively, though, was the staff working throughout the zoo. You could tell in every way that they were genuinely enthusiastic to be there! They were upbeat, friendly, and instantly open for a chat or to answer questions about the animals. What really made me blink in disbelief was the extraordinary level of service: staff members were actually walking around with squeegees and cloths just to clear the rain and condensation off the enclosure glass! Thanks to the staff members, we could see the indoor animals through a crystal-clear view everywhere. That is the kind of detail many large, famous zoos could really take a page from.

It made for a wonderfully peaceful, relaxing, and successful start to the morning. And the best part? The absolute highlight of the zoo section was yet to come: the African Savannah. This area forms the true beating heart of Jaderpark and acts as the perfect bridge between the zoo and the amusement park sections. It is immensely spacious, giving the giraffes, zebras, and antelopes plenty of room and free rein to roam. A path loops around the enclosure, allowing you to stroll along peacefully and take it all in. But even though I had stopped specifically to stretch my legs after that long drive, there was one thing I simply couldn’t resist: the Okavango Express! I have a massive soft spot for park trains. And honestly: as an enthusiast, how can you say no to a relaxing ride along the savannah, complete with commentary and facts about the animals?

Jaderpark may be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, but the history of the park actually goes back much further. Before diving into the rides on offer, it is worth knowing how these attractions ended up here in the first place. The zoo originally dates back to the 1950s. As time went on, the zoo unfortunately lost some of its shine, until it was taken over by the Ludewigt family in 1995. This acquisition saved Jaderpark and allowed it to grow into the destination we know today. You can clearly see that the zoo section holds the oldest credentials by looking at the large restaurant near the entrance. It feels a bit dated, but that is precisely where its charm lies: it feels like stepping back in time. While that wouldn’t work in a modern park at all, it isn’t bothersome here whatsoever—you can genuinely spot the style of previous decades throughout the space. And with its large central bar (which wasn’t open during my visit), it serves as a lovely spot to sit back and retreat for a moment.

Discovering the rides: the perfect mix of nostalgia and modern thrills:
Tempting as it was to head straight for Ziegelblitz, I decided to do a quick exploratory round first. You can naturally tell from the layout that the amusement park section was added to the original zoo at a later stage, but that doesn’t bother you in the slightest. If anything, it proves that the park keeps a close eye on both sections. I immediately noticed that this area, just like the zoo, looks incredibly lush, green, and well-maintained. Furthermore, when it comes to the rides, they have truly thought of all ages: from gentle attractions and playgrounds for the little ones to a bit more thrill for their older brothers or sisters, everyone can have a great time here. In addition to all the rides for young and old, Jaderpark also features a large water playground complete with a sunbathing lawn, making the park highly appealing to visit even on hot summer days. Moreover, during the development of this water playground, careful consideration was given to visitor privacy; there are several changing cubicles available where you can comfortably get changed. So, are you planning to visit Jaderpark on a warm day? Definitely bring your swimwear along, because you might just need it very badly!

At the moment, most of the park’s attractions can still be found in the Jaderhof, which directly borders the zoo section. This is also home to the oldest ride in the park, which opened back in the day alongside the major revamp of Jaderpark: the Holzwurm-Achterbahn (Woodworm Rollercoaster). This is a Zierer Tivoli, a type of family coaster that popped up in many different parks during the 90s. And let’s be honest: when you think of a classic Zierer Tivoli, you quickly picture a train roaring across the track with a whole lot of racket. However, Jaderpark proves the exact opposite here. Surprisingly smooth and without too much noise, the coaster weaves its way through the layout. I secretly hope that this rollercoaster will simply remain at Jaderpark for years to come; many theme parks are slowly saying goodbye to them to make way for more modern coasters, but for me, this remains a wonderful, nostalgic classic. The other attractions in this area are primarily aimed at the younger visitors, though the Maibaum Drop is still a very fun ride to catch even as an adult.

Due to the rainy weather, I unfortunately had to skip the Okavango River (the park’s log flume). This whitewater ride opened in 2021 to mark the park’s 25th anniversary. Here, it is already quite evident that Jaderpark has allocated a substantial budget for expansions; they didn’t just opt for a standalone ride, but for a complete and highly atmospheric themed area. My initial thought walking around was: this secretly reminds me a bit of Phantasialand, specifically the area surrounding Black Mamba. The theming might be slightly less heavy here, but it instantly paints the right picture of the atmosphere. The Okavango River is quite a wet log flume. Given the rainy weather and the thought in the back of my mind that I still had quite a few kilometers to drive towards Hamburg that day, I ultimately decided to pass on it. However, it is absolutely an attraction you should not miss if you visit Jaderpark on a warm summer day, or if you have a sturdy poncho on hand!

Ultimately, Ziegelblitz was truly the absolute highlight of the park for me. It is a beautifully themed family coaster from the German manufacturer Gerstlauer, which races surprisingly smoothly through its layout. You can tell from every detail that Jaderpark allocated a serious budget for this, because the complete themed area, the extensive queue line, and the ride itself are richly decorated. Moreover, right at the beginning of the ride, a surprisingly fun feature has been incorporated. Because I want to keep this article spoiler-free, I won’t give anything away, and you can go experience it for yourself! Additionally, it is a super fun detail that the park mascot, Lutje, has been given such a prominent role in the storyline; you will encounter him regularly during your ride. With a minimum height requirement of 105 cm, it is a fantastic experience for the whole family, and the ideal entry-level coaster for kids who will eventually visit other parks to brave more intense rollercoasters.

For Jaderpark’s 30th anniversary, they opted to open a brand-new attraction: the Torfschleuder. In terms of theming, this ride fits absolutely perfectly into the themed area and serves as the ideal stepping stone for younger brothers or sisters who might find a ride on Ziegelblitz just a bit too thrilling. Furthermore, there is still plenty of expansion land available behind both of these attractions. Given the rapid pace at which the park is currently developing, it is purely a matter of time before we see what new themed area or awesome ride will rise up here in a few years.

Conclusion: Is Jaderpark worth a visit if you are in the area?
To answer that question right away: yes, Jaderpark is absolutely worth a visit when you are in the area! What makes Jaderpark so special is how successfully the combination of a zoo and an amusement park has been executed. While in some hybrid parks you might feel that one side is an afterthought, both remain in perfect balance here. Furthermore, the animals experience zero disturbance from the surrounding rides. The attractions are situated at a sensible, generous distance from the enclosures, allowing the animals to keep their peace even on busy days. I am immensely glad that I discovered this hidden gem in northern Germany. Whether you visit with the family or explore it as a theme park enthusiast like myself, it is simply a wonderfully maintained park where you can easily spend a solid few hours entertained.

With the opening of the Torfschleuder, Jaderpark proves that they are far from expanding and innovating. If you pay close attention, you can already spot the preparations being made for a new attraction set to open in 2027. The concept art has already been shared and can be viewed directly at the construction site and on their social media account. Given the high standard of recent projects like the Okavango River, Ziegelblitz, and the Torfschleuder, I fully expect this upcoming addition to be another beautifully themed attraction. Jaderpark is developing at a rapid pace, and with this impressive build tempo, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they open a unique eyecatcher in the coming years that puts them even more firmly on the international amusement park map.

Finally, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jaderpark for providing the tickets and for the wonderful, hospitable day I had at the park. Should I find myself in the area again in the future, I will definitely drop by. Not just to relax and stretch my legs after a long drive, but certainly also to see with my own eyes what fantastic new additions they will have built by then!

* Images marked with an (*) are sourced from the Jaderpark media library.