Hi everyone! I'm new on the forum. I'm Marc, 22 years old, live in Gent (city in Flanders, the Dutch or Flemish speaking part of Belgium). I'm working as a nurse in a hospital in my city. I'm very fascinated about zoo's and wildlife conservation. Today, more than ever it's necessary to work on that! My favourite zoo is the Antwerp Zoo, the only 'real' zoo in Belgium. Maybe that is because every Belgian visit the zoo min. 1 time in his life. Everyone you know has been there already and that's a nice feeling . It's a bit part of our life. It's a real city zoo, next to the Central Station of Antwerp. The Zoo attracts every year more visitors and invests every year for millions of euro's. I think it's a great example of how a zoo's must invest these days. There also is a great atmosphere, beautiful garden, romantic... I like it there . Belgium is no zoo country but I think we can be proud on our only zoo we have. They also got the EAZA research award in 2006. Greetz! Marc.
Wow I've just post this and already 3 reply's! Busy forum . Pics Antwerp Zoo: http://www.zoobeat.com/9/antwerp-zoo-antwerp-belgium-305/index3.html
Hi Marc from me too If a visitor had only one spare day in Belgium would you recommend they visit Antwerp Zoo or Planckendael? (This could be me in a few months, although I have already been to Antwerp which I thought was ok)
@Marc: Doesn't Plankendael count as a 'real' zoo? I went to both Antwerpen Zoo and Plankendael last year, and I was quite impressed. Nice to have another belgian on the forum. Welcome!
Difficult question . Planckendael is also a very nice park. It's difficult to compare with the Antwerp Zoo, wich is a real city zoo and much smaller but, still very interessting! Maybe it depends on what you prefer: Planckendael = larger, greener, less species but they have Koala's . Zoo Antwerp = smaller, older, better atmosphere, nice architecture, beautiful garden, more species, easy to go by train. Anyway, both parks are from the same society so you support both parks when you visit only one, so that's good .
Yeah Planckendael is a zoo but here we never call it like that . It's always 'animal park'. Next years Planckendael will get girafs, elephants, penguins...they will get more species. Glad you liked both parks! But aren't conditions for a park to call it a 'zoo'?
I would call Plankendael a zoo, since it has many smaller exhibits as well as the large open ones. They also have a huge tropical house and nice Australian theme (possibly the best in Europe). But you could call it an animal park too. Let's just say it's a judgement call
I've been to Ghent on our school French Exchange, and should be going again in March. I loved Antwerp zoo, and I plan to visit again. Does Antwerp still have it's white lipped peccaries? Oh, and welcome to this wonderful forum.
Haha ok, for me the Antwerp Zoo is more zoo zoo at this time . @ Writhedhornbill: I think the Antwerp Zoo never had them. Maybe you mean Planckendael, there you can find them.
Hi Marc, Welcome. In regard to Planckendael: do You think koalas will lure the predominantely Australian users here into a zoo? That's almost like an Australian advocating an Australian zoo to an American because of the zoo keeping raccoons...
I'd try and see Parc Paradisio then, specially if the "Kingdom of Ganesh" has been opened by then (check before you go). Welkom on the english forum Marc
Thaks jwer I'm actually going to Lille in July so I think I will hop across the border to Park Paradisio
The white lipped peccaries have moved from Antwerp Zoo to the Planckendael Animal Park. You can reach the park very easy from Ghent by taking a 35 minutes train to Mechelen. At the railway station in Mechelen you can take the coach or the boat to the animal park. Buy in Ghent a 'Day Combination Ticket : Train + Planckendael', it's much cheaper that way
