BillyBird Hemelrijk

A family park born around a sand lake

BillyBird Hemelrijk spreads around a lake in Volkel that was created by sand extraction. Ton and Gerrie Derks opened the site to the public on 4 May 1986, so the beach, nature and outdoor play came before the rides. That origin still shapes a park where water, woodland and open space matter as much as the attractions.

Todayʼs collection combines a family roller coaster, monumental playgrounds, adventure courses, water activities and indoor experiences. Familieachtbaan rises above the boulevard, Splash sends boats along its water course and Hemelaya turns a large hall into an exploration landscape, while Strandbad and the pedal boats preserve the bond with the lake.

Four complementary worlds

Billyʼs Boulevard brings together the first landmarks seen from the entrance and leads towards the beach. Kinderland is a covered world for younger children, with a traffic course, small rides and active play. Ruig favours climbing, balance and lively sensations, while Oervallei uses timber, rocks and changes in level to suggest a prehistoric valley.

An identity created on site

Many experiences were conceived by the Derks family and developed around the existing landscape. Successive additions — Zeeroversland, Splash, Hemelaya, Familieachtbaan, Oervallei and then Ruig — chart the transformation of a recreation lake into a family park with its own characters and scenery.

The BillyBird Hemelrijk name adopted in 2004 sums up that evolution. Billy, the parkʼs yellow bird, now welcomes families beside an entrance renewed in 2024, yet the heart of the place remains unchanged: a day of play where indoor spaces, the beach and outdoor adventures remain closely connected.