A treat for children and adults alike is a day trip to the Dolphinarium in Hardewijk. The park has been open for over 40 years and has now been hailed as Europe’s largest marine park. It is open during the summer months from mid February to end of September and you are welcome to spend the whole day at the park enjoying the daily shows. A timetable of shows is given at the entrance detailing the times of the shows for the dolphinarium, stingray & sharks, walruses, seadogs and seals. There is several playgrounds for the children and being right on the beachfront a paddle in the sea is quite pleasant.
In July 2009 they celebrated the birth of baby dolphin Luna and Rif who you can view in the aquarium and take pictures without flash. There is something very spiritual about the dolphins, we decided to see the show twice and no 2 shows are the same.
All of the shows are conducted in dutch with the exception of the seal show which is done in mime, it really doesn’t matter if you can’t speak the language as the animals are the stars of the show also you can ask any questions you have after the show in English. There are several restaurants dotted around the park most selling frites with mayo but you can enjoy a healthy sandwich. There are also kiosks to purchase ice-cream, beer, coffee and stroopwaffels.
Cost Adult Eur25, children Eur22.50 extra Eur1 in July & August
Parking Eur6 park open 10am – 5pm & 6pm in August.
Strandboulevard Oost 1, 3841 Hardewijk
Travel: Amsterdam Centraal – Amersfoort Intercity Amersfoort – Hardewijk (direction Zwolle) Stop trein journey time approx 1hr cost 2nd class return full fare Eur21.50. Bus to Dolpinarium 144, 147, 148 we travelled on a novelty bus 2 strips.
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Phone: 0341 467 467
Website: http://www.dolfinarium.nl/