Hof der dingen - Dadipark: not your average theme park

If there had ever been a World Championship for designing theme parks, West Flanders would have easily taken home every trophy. De Kosmos, Aviflora, De Meli, Boudewijnpark, Bellewaerde – there was no lack of amusement parks where West Flemish kids could happily spend their Sunday afternoon. 

Dadipark, though – that one was always a bit eccentric. An oddball, some might call it. How so? Well, first of all, this amusement park was designed at the initiative of Father Gaston Deweer. Yes, you did read that correctly – it was a priest who pushed for the theme park to be founded. 

He had noticed that pilgrims on their way to the basilica Daisel were looking for – and not finding- entertainment for their kids who joined them during their pilgrimage. 

What started off small as a playground next to the church quickly evolved into a full-fledged amusement park. Not one with flashy rollercoasters or state-of-the-art rides, though – Dadipark was known for being an affordable amusement park for toddlers and young children. Its crown jewel was an 800-meter-long suspension bridge built in 1960 – one of a kind in Europe. 

One other thing that distinguished Dadipark from other theme parks? The separate playgrounds for boys and girls. Each playground consisted of a swimming pool, a giant slide, a maze and sandboxes. 

The theme park quickly rose to fame, becoming a popular school trip destination for schools in Belgium and even Northern France. But tragedy struck in 2000 when a boy from Courtray was gravely injured on a ride, nearly losing his arm. After the tragic incident, complaints about safety increased, and visitor numbers began to drop. In 2002, the park announced it would close for one year to renovate crucial parts and rides— but it never reopened. 

The abandoned site quickly fell into decline and became a popular destination for urbex photographers – thrill-seekers capturing beauty in decay. In the summer of 2012, demolition of the legendary park finally began. After years of uncertainty, the future of the site was revealed in early 2024: the province of West Flanders has taken it upon itself to transform the once-popular tourist destination into a new, landscaped water park and residential area. 

Special thanks to Yves Verleysen for providing us with this beautiful archive material of one of West Flanders’ most beloved amusement parks.