One of Europe’s largest sea mammal parks
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course. 2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Who and What:
My husband, myself and our two daughters went to the Dolfinarium, one of Europe’s largest sea mammal parks located in Harderwijk, The Netherlands. It is home to Spetter, who is advertised as the ‘naughtiest and most famous’ dolphin in the Netherlands and has his own television series.

Why:
We were visiting my sister in nearby Eindhoven the weekend of my eldest daughter’s 4th birthday. Call me overindulgent, but the sweet girl simply needed a dolphin show to celebrate her special day.

The High Point:
The sea lion and dolphin shows were both quite elaborate and entertaining. They not only featured these beautiful creatures performing tricks, but also included trainers who have some serious acting skills, dazzling lights, music, extensive props and a laugh-worthy plot line that all ages and languages can follow.

The natural elements of the park and setting were really appealing. When you walk to the northern edge of the park, you find yourself away from the crowds on a sandy beach looking out at sailboats peacefully gliding by, which made for an idyllic picnic stop.

The Low Point:
We didn’t leave enough time to explore the entire park. In addition to the shows, there are several movie screenings, four large playgrounds, sea life exhibits, and educational displays about nature conservation in the North Sea. You can purchase pricey swims with or petting of the dolphins, but these must be scheduled in advance of your visit.

The Kids’ Take:
My daughters both loved seeing the sea animals interact with the trainers in the shows. They were both amazed at one point in the dolphin show when a trainer discreetly was hooked up to a harness, and then began to magically ‘fly’ through the air above the dolphins, who jumped out of the water below her.

Another highlight was the petting encounter where the kids could pet sting ray and hound fish.

The Bottom Line:
If you’re anywhere near the area with your kids during the warmer months of the year when the park is open, it’s worth considering for a day trip. I would recommend you leave yourself a minimum of five hours order to get the most out of your Dolfinarium experience.

Like this?  Get our monthly email newsletter.

January 6th, 2011 | by Julie Breitigan 1 comment