The Netherlands with Kids: Beekse Bergen Safari Park Review

Table of Contents

If you’re searching for an unforgettable family outing that combines adventure, nature and value for money, Beekse Bergen Safari Park in the Netherlands is the perfect choice for a day out with the kids – so keep reading for my review. It’s still one of our favourite days out, and it’s 100% without a doubt the biggest and best zoo that we’ve ever visited. (We love it so much we’re planning another visit in 2026!) Within my review, I’ve included information about Beekse Bergen Safari Park, photos, tips and where to stay nearby (the Netherlands has some amazing holiday parks!).

Visit: September 2023 (Updated January 2026)

What’s so special about Beekse Bergen Safari Park in the Netherlands?

Beekse Bergen is an enormous safari park that offers a variety of safari experiences, from drive-through adventures to boat and walking safaris, providing numerous opportunities to observe the animals. The site is huge – we spent more than 6 hours there and clocked up 5 miles of walking! The space that the animals have to enjoy is so vast, and there are loads of each species so you really do feel like you’re on a safari – it’s completely different from most other zoos. The animals are roaming rather than being confined in small enclosures, they have huge open spaces, and it’s certainly the most natural style setting we’ve ever experienced at a zoo.

What’s Beekse Bergen Safari Park like?

The drive through safari

There are three safaris and I would definitely recommend doing the car safari first, this means that you can have lunch in the car afterwards (so that you don’t need to carry anything heavy). It’s a chance to see a wide variety of African and other wildlife up close, including elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos and more. For the driving safari, you can explore in your own car (listening to a tour on your phone using the Beekse Bergen app), or take a guided bus tour through large open enclosures where animals roam freely. You can see so many animals from the comfort of your car, and it’s a great way for the kids to rest their little legs whilst still enjoying what the zoo has to offer.

The walking safari

Once you’ve done the drive through safari and had some lunch, make a start on the walking safari. This zoo is massive so you’ll want plenty of time to explore – and you’ll definitely want to spend a whole day at Beekse Bergen Safari Park. For a closer look at some of the animals, the walking safari was fantastic – you can see pretty much every animal you can think of! They have the largest range of species we’ve ever seen at a zoo, and plenty of each animal too.

Trenches or moats are used to accommodate the fences where possible, so you get a direct, uninterrupted view of the animals making them seem really close. The walking trails also offer an immersive experience where you can get closer to smaller animals like lemurs and penguins. And it’s such an engaging place – this rope bridge area takes you over the bear enclosure for a closer look in a fun way! It even had a slide to get back down! The Netherlands is such a great place for a family holiday – they make everything so engaging and child-friendly for the kids, and Beekse Bergen Safari Park really shows this.

The boat safari

The walking safari will take you to the far side of the zoo, and from there you can rest your weary legs by catching the boat safari back to the entrance – perfect for when the kids have run out of steam and this why I recommend doing the boat ride last. The water safari on the lake is totally magical – who doesn’t love a boat ride?! We were so excited to see a cheetah drinking at the water’s edge as we sailed past, and it really added to the African safari feeling. The boat runs to and from either end of the park – each trip lasts about 25 minutes and it runs every 30 minutes throughout the day.

What facilities are there at Beekse Bergen Safari Park?

The playground at Beekse Bergen Safari Park is well-equipped with facilities to ensure a comfortable visit – all in the safari theme! There are several picnic areas where you can enjoy a packed lunch, saving on the cost of dining out. The on-site restaurant also offers meals and snacks, with scenic views of animal enclosures adding to the dining experience. I can’t comment on the quality of the food as we’re picnic people, so the kids only had an ice-cream, but it did look tasty and it seemed reasonably priced too. The huge restaurant has glass windows, and a massive outdoor picnic area, all overlooking the monkey and hippo enclosures so you can eat with a view! There are also play parks and children’s activities dotted around the safari park – perfect for keeping the kids amused.

Where are the best places to stay near Beekse Bergen Safari Park?

I thought I’d add some accommodation options to my review to help you to find the best place to stay near Beekse Bergen Safari Park – the Netherlands has some incredible family-friendly holiday parks! (Check out this article for even more choice: The 12 best holiday parks in the Netherlands for family getaways.) Here are my top 5 picks within 45 minutes of the safari park:

1. Eurocamp: Lake Resort Beekse Bergen

Lake Resort Beekse Bergen is directly next door to Beekse Bergen Safari Park (payable) and Speelland Attraction Park (included). The resort also boasts an indoor swimming pool with a play area, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, bike hire and a lake. My children absolutely loved our stay there – read my Lake Resort Beekse Bergen Review to find out more – and the resort is also only a 20 minute drive from Efteling theme park. The closest airport, Eindhoven, is 20 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Lake Resort Beekse Bergen on the Eurocamp website.

2. Center Parcs: De Kempervennen

De Kempervennen Center Parcs is around 45 minutes from Beekse Bergen Safari Park. The resort offers an amazing pool complex with indoor & outdoor pools, waterslides, rapids, a baby pool, a wave pool and hot tubs. It boasts an indoor ski slope, an aqua inflatable, paintballing, a climbing wall, paddle-boarding, bowling, soft play, playgrounds and all sorts! (Some activities are chargeable.) Plus, Efteling theme park and Toverland are just 45 minutes away. The nearest airport is Eindhoven – a 20 minute drive. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out De Kempervennen on the Center Parcs website.

3. Eurocamp: Marvilla Parks Kaatsheuvel

Marvilla Parks Kaatsheuvel is just 25 minutes drive from Beekse Bergen Safari Park and only 10 minutes away from Efteling Theme Park. There’s a brilliant indoor swimming pool with a toddler area, an outdoor splash play zone for younger ones and waterslides for older kids. The location is gorgeous – with sand dunes and deep forests on your doorstep. If you fancy a city adventure Amsterdam is just over an hour away. The nearest airport is Eindhoven Airport – about 40 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Marvilla Parks Kaatsheuvel on the Eurocamp website.

4. Landal: Het Vennenbos

Landal Het Vennenbos is a 35 minute drive from Beekse Bergen Safari Park. It features a fantastic subtropical swimming paradise with waterslides, a lazy river and a toddler-friendly play area. The resort offers bowling, an indoor play forest, an arcade games room, sports, bike hire and play areas – there’s loads to do whatever the weather! If you fancy some days out, you can also reach Efteling and Toverland theme parks in around 45 minutes. The nearest airport, Eindhoven, is 25 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Het Vennenbos on the Landal website.

5. Eurocamp: TerSpegelt Village

TerSpegelt Village is just a 35 minute drive from Beekse Bergen Safari Park. It’s one of the best holiday parks in the Netherlands for water-based activities with direct lake access for swimming, paddle-boarding and water sports. The resort boasts a heated indoor pool with waterslides and a splash zone / play area, a pump track, dinghy rides, play areas, pedalos, arts & crafts, miniature golf and all sorts! You can reach Efteling theme park in around 45 minutes too. The nearest airport, Eindhoven, is 20 minutes away. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out TerSpegelt Village on the Eurocamp website.

How much are entry tickets to Beekse Bergen Safari Park – is it good value for money?

Visiting Beekse Bergen Safari Park is honestly one of the best days out that we’ve ever had, and you should definitely add it to your list of places to visit if you’re planning a trip to the Netherlands with the kids. We were so lucky with the baking hot weather – which made for a great day exploring the zoo – and certainly added to the African safari feeling! Try to visit on a weekday if possible as it was a lot quieter than the weekend. Where we stayed on the resort next door we could see the carpark filling up at the weekend, though it was pretty quiet when we visited mid-week.

This day out was insanely good value for money for us because we didn’t pay for it! At the time, if you stayed at Lake Resort Beekse Bergen for 3 nights or more the safari park entry was included. Our stay was less than £60 a night booked through Eurocamp, so with the safari park and Speelland attraction park included it was insanely good value for money. Unfortunately from 2026, though Speelland is still included with a stay at Lake Resort Beekse Bergen, the safari park is now payable. But, don’t despair, tickets for the safari park are around £25pp and I still think it’s brilliant value for money for what’s on offer. Pre-book online to save a few euros and check the Tiqets website for any discounts.

You can also get a joint ticket for the safari park and the next door Speelland (Playland) Attraction Park which is great value at around £35pp for both attractions. So, if you’re not staying on the resort and want to do both, a joint ticket definitely offers the best value for money. I hope that my review of Beekse Bergen Safari Park has been helpful – the Netherlands is a brilliant place for a family holiday. There are also LOADS of other fabulous family-friendly days out, so check out this article too: The Netherlands family holiday itinerary – the 10 best things to do with kids! Happy holidays! 😊

Useful information for your visit…

Website: Beekse Bergen Safari Park
Parking: Yes (payable)
Facilities: Restaurants, food huts, parking, toilets, picnic areas, play areas
Address: Beekse Bergen 1, 5081 NJ Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
For up-to-date opening times and prices, please check their website.