Forty years between lake and play: the story of BillyBird Hemelrijk

A lake before the rides

When Ton and Gerrie Derks open Hemelrijk in 1986, it is first a recreation beach in a former sand-extraction area. Clear water, banks and birds give the project a foundation that later attractions will have to respect.

The purchase of additional land in 1990 and a catering pavilion in 1991 consolidate the business. In 1993, Verkeersspeeltuin and Kinderkermis take Hemelrijk into the family-entertainment era; Zeeroversland then adds a major indoor option in 1995.

Building an identity of its own

Splash in 2002, Hemelaya and the BillyBird name in 2004, then Familieachtbaan in 2009 give the park recognisable landmarks. Each project answers one aspect of the place: water, climbing and finally a mechanical ride visible from the entrance.

The 2010s deepen indoor play through Speelcircus and Ballenfabriek. Oervallei in 2019 and Ruig in 2020 then organise the park into coherent landscapes, connecting activities through materials, terrain and a shared encouragement to move.

Changing without erasing the landscape

The new entrance in 2024 and the fortieth anniversary in 2026 show a park conscious of its history. The logo evolves, spaces become clearer and Billy gains a stronger presence, yet the beach remains central to both the imagery and daily operation.

That continuity explains BillyBird Hemelrijkʼs personality. The park did not replace a recreation site with an artificial world; it layered adventures onto the lake, trees and sand. Forty years later, that dialogue remains its most lasting distinction.