The history of Walibi Belgium and Aqualibi

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Relive 50 years of innovation, thrills, and unforgettable memories!

1972: An idea is born

Eddy Meeùs discovers cable skiing, a form of waterskiing where skiers are pulled along by a cable rather than by a boat, and obtains the exclusive sales rights for the Benelux, with an option for worldwide rights.

Not long afterwards, he buys a large plot of land with a three-hectare pond and founds Les Grands Étangs de Limal.

His plan is to develop the site further with changing rooms, a restaurant, a playground and more, but a meeting with a fairground attractions manufacturer changes everything.

Eddy Meeùs

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Cable skiing

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1975 : The creation of Walibi

For the first time in Europe, Meeùs introduces the single-admission ticket, giving visitors unlimited access to all attractions. Walibi opens on 26 July with ponies, pedal boats, bumper cars, fairground rides… and cable skiing.

Inspired by Tintin and approved by Belgian artist Hergé, The Temple of the Sun marks the start of a collaboration with publisher Le Lombard. Guy Dessicy draws the first kangaroo.

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Walibi’s beginnings

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Attractions from 1978 to 1985

1978: Rivière Sauvage, later known as Rio Grande, and Jumbo Jet open.

Attractions from 1978 to 1985

1979: Les Vieux Tacots, a vintage-car track, opens, along with the Grande Roue, the second-largest Ferris wheel at the time, and the famous Inferno.

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Attractions from 1978 to 1985

1981 : Big Yoyo opens.

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Attractions from 1978 to 1985

1982: Sirocco opens.

Fifteen years later, in 1997, an incident makes international headlines. The Sirocco train does not launch fast enough and gets stuck upside down in the loop. Twenty-six visitors are evacuated by crane.

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Attractions from 1978 to 1985

1985: Le Palais d’Ali Baba opens.

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1987: The opening of Aqualibi

Dominique Fallon suggests an idea to Eddy Meeùs: building an indoor water park. And so Aqualibi is born, with its transparent conical roof and immersive tropical atmosphere. A first in Belgium! During peak season, it is a premium attraction at Walibi: each visitor can enjoy it for 1 hour and 15 minutes. At the end of the season, when Walibi closes its doors, Aqualibi becomes an independent water park. 

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Aqualibi in 1987

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Rapido (open in 1990)

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Expansion of the group

1988: Walibi goes public and launches an ambitious expansion strategy, with acquisitions and new openings across Europe. The group acquires Mini-Europe (BE). 1988 also marks the opening of Radja River, still one of our visitors’ favourite attractions.

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Expansion of the group

1989: Avenir Land (FR), acquired in 1981, becomes Walibi Rhône-Alpes.

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Expansion of the group

1990: The group acquires Bellewaerde (BE).

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Expansion of the group

1991: Big Bang Schtroumpf (FR), acquired in 1990, becomes Walibi Schtroumpf. 

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Expansion of the group

1992: The group acquires Océade (BE) and creates Walibi Aquitaine (FR).

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Expansion of the group

1994: Flevohof (NL), acquired in 1992, becomes Walibi Flevo.

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1998: The end of an era

Eddy Meeùs announces that he wants to sell. The Walibi group is then acquired by the US group Premier Parks, which becomes the global giant Six Flags in 2000. In 2001, Walibi becomes Six Flags Belgium. Management introduces characters from the Looney Tunes licences, such as Bugs Bunny, who becomes the park’s main symbol. An investment plan of €30 million is also announced to build around 15 new attractions. In autumn 2000, Six Flags organises its first Halloween event.

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Six Flags Belgium entrance

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Logo of Six Flags Belgium

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Bugs Bunny, symbol of Six Flags Belgium

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2005: The kangaroo is back

Six Flags sells the park to the Star Parks group, which restores Walibi’s original name. For his big comeback, the kangaroo has a few surprises in store for visitors, including new attractions, such as a 4D cartoon inspired by SpongeBob, and the arrival of new friends. 

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Walibi and his friends

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2006: Compagnie des Alpes

Walibi Belgium joins Compagnie des Alpes, a company growing quickly in the European leisure park market. Walibi keeps its name and its comic-book licences.

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Logo of the Compagnie des Alpes

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2008: The arrival of Vertigo

The attraction opens in June 2008 in the presence of Jean-Claude Van Damme, but closes again only a few days later. Following inconclusive technical tests, management decides, in agreement with the manufacturer, to dismantle the attraction at the end of the season.

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Attraction Vertigo

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2011 : Wab or The SkunX ?

The mascot gets a new look and reinvents himself in a musical universe. The kangaroo creates his pop-rock band, W.A.B. His evil twin brother, Squad, creates The SkunX, a rock and metal band. Visitors choose their side and follow this musical rivalry throughout the park. This new theme brings two major additions: a new short film, Rokken Roll’, produced in-house and shown in the 4D Cinema, and a new show in the amphitheatre: The Music Battle Show. 

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Époque W.A.B. and The SkunX

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Short film Rokken Roll’

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2013: The inauguration of Psyké Underground

On 27 July 2013, Psyké Underground is officially inaugurated. Quentin Mosimann, composer of the original soundtrack, is invited alongside Marc Pinilla. 

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Quentin Mosimann and Marc Pinilla

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The investment plan

2018: Walibi launches the investment plan it announced in 2017. The ambitious goal? To completely transform 75% of the park by 2023 by creating several themed worlds: the Worlds of Walibi. Ten new attractions are also planned. The total investment amounts to €100 million. The first two worlds are Exotic World and Tiki-Waka.

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The investment plan

2019: Fun World, Karma World and Popcorn Revenge are inaugurated.

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The investment plan

2020: The park unveils its mascot’s new look. 

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The investment plan

2021: Kondaa and Kondaala arrive. In July 2021, however, Aqualibi and Walibi are hit by floods, with water reaching up to 1.5 metres in some areas. The Covid-19 pandemic and these floods prevent the park’s transformation from being completed within the announced timeframe.

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2023: New additions at Aqualibi and Walibi Winter

More than 36 years after opening, Aqualibi takes a new step in 2023 with the inauguration of a 25-metre-high tower. It features a combination of four waterslides, the first of their kind in the Benelux: an 18-metre-high wave slide, Waïkiki; a giant funnel slide, Pomakaï; and two racing slides where families and friends can compete side by side, Wiki Wiki and Banzaï.

That same year also marks a major first in Walibi’s history: the park no longer goes into hibernation. Alongside its usual attractions, the park offers exclusive winter activities, including a large covered ice rink, an ice show and a real Christmas market. Walibi Belgium puts on its finest winter coat and immediately brings visitors into the festive spirit. 

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New Aqualibi

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Walibi Winter

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2025: The creation of Dock World and Mecalodon

The park takes another step in the transformation that began in 2018. For its 50th anniversary, the famous Belgian kangaroo gets a new family roller coaster and a new themed zone. 

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Mecalodon

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Zone Dock World

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Walibi won’t stop hopping any time soon!

Dear visitors, thank you for bringing Walibi to life for so many years. Let’s keep writing this wonderful story together!