Sea Lions (Zeeleeuwen) putting up quite a show at Dolfinarium - Netherlands
Channel: Wandering Caravan
Date: 2022-12-15

Dolfinarium Harderwijk is a dolphinarium in Harderwijk in the Netherlands. Owner is the Spanish group Aspro Ocio . It is the largest marine mammal park in Europe and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The park was founded in 1955 as a sideline to the operation of a playground . In 1965 the doors of the dolphinarium were opened to the public.

History 
In 1955, entrepreneur Frits den Herder, who together with brother Coen owned a local shipping company and a playground in Harderwijk, started 'collecting' marine mammals. With this he continued the work of his father Eibert den Herder , a former skipper who, after a futile attempt to stop the closure of the Zuiderzee, committed himself to getting tourism to Harderwijk. In 1965 he built the first dolphinarium in the Netherlands. Visitors could come and take a look for a fee and learn about different animals of the sea. In Den Herder's years, in addition to bottlenose dolphins, Pacific walruses, California sea lions , steller sea lions, harbor seals and gray seals, black killer whales, and a killer whale were added to the animal population.

In 1989 the park was sold to Ruud de Clercq, former director of the Efteling theme park . He expanded the park to include a Ray Reef , a basin where visitors can pet rays and sharks, a 3D movie theater , a cetacean rescue center, and in 1997 a lagoon , a natural basin for California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, several species of fish, crabs, and lobsters . In 2001 Dolfinarium Harderwijk was sold to the French recreation company Compagnie des Alpes(CdA). This company specializes in operating ski accommodations, amusement parks and other family entertainment. In 2005 Dolfinarium Harderwijk got a facelift. A new entrance was built and a new walrus enclosure and porpoise enclosure were opened. In 2013, the dome of the marine mammal park was renovated and the dolphin show 'Aqua Bella' was installed. This show has an educational side in the form of a story about the consequences of marine litter and global warming. The Roggenrif was also expanded with various aquariums in which North Sea animals can be seen.

At the end of 2014, Compagnie des Alpes sold the dolphinarium to the Spanish group Aspro Ocio for an amount of 18 million euros. [1]

In the summer of 2017, the park opened an attraction that does not involve animals. This 'Water Fun' attraction is the start of a transformation into a water fun park for children in which animal shows are less central. [2] On July 1, 2019, the park opened its second water attraction. This attraction consists of three long water slides with natural colors. The first is 20 meters long and is also the steepest of the trio. The second slide is 56 meters long and has light effects inside. The last slide is 71 meters long and is a tire slide that two people can slide down at the same time. The slides are located next to the previously constructed water attraction. This slide trio is 8 meters high.

Shows and performances 
The dream wish was a dolphin show that was performed in the Dolfijndomijn with a capacity of 2100 spectators. The show was replaced by Aqua Bella in 2013.
Aqua Bella was a dolphin show performed in the same basin. In November 2013, this show received the highest award in the world in the zoo and attraction industry: the 'Brass Ring Award'.
Oceanica is an educational show that replaced Aqua Bella.
'Show with dolphins' is an educational show with bottlenose dolphins that is performed in the DolfijnenDelta.
The Pirate Gang was a sea lion show that was performed in the Zotte Zeelion Theater with a capacity of 1200 seats. Only California sea lions starred in the show.
The presentation 'Sterk Werk' is educational and will be performed in the Stoere Stellersterk. Only Steller sea lions participate in this presentation.
'Our smallest dolphins' is an educational show about porpoises. This is performed in the Bruinvisbaai.
The Hobbeldebobbelshow is an educational presentation about common and gray seals. This will be performed in the Zeehondenzand.
The Snor(rrr) show is a show performed by walruses on the Walrussenwal.
The (H)aaibaaishow is an educational performance performed by rays and sharks in the Roggenrif.
The theater performance Treasures of the Sea was a show in theater Zeezicht.
The performance Wally & his friends is a children's performance that sometimes takes place in the Wallytheater.