Wildlands Adventure Zoo

Emmen had a well-regarded zoo from 1935, known for its open enclosures and its ape rock, and in 2016 it was closed, the animals moved, and a completely new park opened on a different site in the middle of town - Wildlands, built as three themed zones, Jungola, Serenga and Nortica, covering rainforest, savanna and polar regions, with indoor halls, a boat ride and a monorail. The build cost far more than projected and the visitor numbers came in far below forecast, and the resulting deficit fell on the municipality of Emmen, which had underwritten it; the affair became a national example of a local authority carrying the risk on a leisure project and has been through several rescue packages. The park itself works well enough - the indoor rainforest and the polar hall are substantial - and it is one of the larger zoos in the country.

What you actually see

• Three themed worlds - rainforest, savanna and polar, in halls and open enclosures.
• A boat ride and monorail - the built attractions through the zones.
• A rebuilt zoo - the 1935 park closed and replaced on a new site in 2016.
• A financial cautionary tale - the overrun that fell on the municipality.

When to go

April to October. A day.

Honest expectations

Busy in school holidays. It is a zoo with the welfare questions that raises. The park has had repeated financial trouble and offer and opening details have changed more than once - check before travelling.

Nearby

Bargerveen is south-east; the Drenthe hunebedden are north.