Amusement park will probably never open: built for 50 million euros

Rotterdam (Netherlands) – Silence instead of children’s laughter, empty paths instead of queues. There’s a theme park in the middle of Rotterdam that looks like it could open tomorrow. And yet he seems frozen.

The Ferris wheel doesn’t turn, the escape room is empty, and the haunted house, ice rink, climbing hall and pirate ship are also deserted. Not a soul is sitting at the restaurant tables. Only the wind blows through the framework of the meter-high attractions, while a few craftsmen keep the facilities on the 25,000 square meter area in good condition.

Nothing has happened for years. In the worst case scenario, no visitor will ever set foot in the gigantic “Rivoli”. A horror scenario that is becoming more and more real for the visionary creator.

“King of Theme Parks” is behind the project

Hennie van der Most (76), also “King of the Amusement parks“, is behind the apparently dead project. In the 1990s, the Dutchman turned the decommissioned fast breeder reactor in Kalkar into the successful “Wonderland“, wanted to write a new chapter with the “Rivoli” park in Rotterdam and fulfill a dream. But it threatens to burst.

Han Groot Obbink, van der Most’s manager, tells BILD: “There was a waste incineration plant here, it took several years to renovate the ground and prepare the building for conversion. Permits were delayed and none were granted for some attractions.” Added to this was, among other things, that there was not enough electricity, there were occasional fires on the premises and finally this Money went out because there was a lack of income from the other parks due to Corona.

Millions still need to be invested

Construction has been going on in the port of Rotterdam for 14 years, much longer than planned. Van der Most says he has already invested more than 50 million euros. Around 7 million euros are currently missing to repay the loans, more money is needed to finalize the “Rivoli”. All efforts ultimately failed.

Additional problem: the relationship with the city of Rotterdam. The site is leased. “The contract only runs until 2030 and the city does not want to extend it. We suspect that apartments will be built there,” said the manager. Planning security? None. And too high a risk for investors. They are already demanding their money back.

Amusement park should be a life’s work

Only new donors could save the project. Even citizens should be able to participate. But time is running out: a foreclosure auction is already scheduled for April 21st. For Groot Obbink, it means demolition. He says to BILD: “This is a personal drama for Hennie van der Most. He employs 2,500 people in his well-functioning businesses Operatedhas put his entire fortune into the ‘Rivoli’. It was to be his life’s work.”