Beelen Eye Ferris Wheel Opens to Public in Rotterdam-Zuid

Ten years after its final spin in Belgium, a towering piece of amusement park history is finally welcoming riders once again. The 45-meter-high attraction—originally manufactured in 1979 by the Limburg firm Vekoma—closed its doors at Walibi Belgium at the end of 2016 before making its way to the Netherlands, according to detailed reporting on the reopening.

From Rotterdam Storage to the Beelen Eye Reopening

The journey from a dismantled structure to an operating skyline fixture was far from straightforward. After arriving in Rotterdam, the massive steel framework stood untouched for years while initial plans by Hennie van der Most to establish an independent amusement park stalled over regulatory hurdles. Van der Most was reportedly unable to secure the necessary safety approvals for the ride, and earlier intervention saw half of the structure’s original forty open gondolas removed.

Beelen rebranded the site to Spelen bij Beelen and invested heavily in the revitalization.

a investment of vele honderdduizenden euro’s. Wim Beelen, via Looopings

Following a green light from inspection authority TÜV Nord, the central attraction officially welcomed its first visitors, the outlet noted of the safety clearance. While a comprehensive paint job remains visibly incomplete in places, the newly christened Beelen Eye is operating daily. Admission is currently pegged at 15 euros for adults and 10 euros for children, with rides bundled into standard park entry tickets through September 1, after which a separate fee will apply.

Sourcing Organic Produce and Family-First Pricing

Beyond the vintage hardware, the Rotterdam-Zuid facility integrates a dedicated agricultural pipeline designed to shape visitor experiences. Spelen bij Beelen sources its food and beverage options directly from Eten bij Beelen, an agricultural production site in Houten managed under Beelen’s broader business ventures following a restart of Plantenkwekerij Jongerius.

The park emphasizes chemical-free agricultural output as a core pillar of its visitor concept, supplying fresh snack cucumbers and grape tomatoes that travel straight from the cultivation site to the park’s visitors. The agricultural facility notes a standard eight-week window from initial cultivation to harvest for its tomato crops.

Spelen bij Beelen stated that at Eten bij Beelen they work every day to produce honest and pesticide-free organic food, including for Spelen bij Beelen.

Beverage options follow a similar health-conscious mandate, substituting traditional high-sugar sodas with organic juices and unlimited water access. To prevent visitors from bypassing these curated options, management enforces a strict ban on outside food and beverages, balancing the restriction by pricing children’s refreshments at just one euro.

Spelen bij Beelen explained that this approach avoids distinctions among children and ensures every family can fully enjoy the experience.

Financial Stakes and Future Plans for the Rotterdam Park

The commercial strategy behind the newly opened wheel relies heavily on tourist traffic. Park operators anticipate strong visitor turnout, with ride revenues designated to subsidize and support the continued development of the broader park grounds.

Despite successfully bringing the 1979 Vekoma construction back to life, long-term projections point toward modernization. Entrepreneur Beelen harbors ambitions to eventually replace the vintage open-gondola framework with a completely new structure featuring enclosed cabins, though management has not yet disclosed which manufacturer would supply a replacement system.