Dierenpark Emmen

Dierenpark Emmen is a zoo in the town of Emmen, province of Drenthe in the Netherlands, operated today as Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen after a major redevelopment. The site functions as a regional zoological park focused on immersive habitat zones.

The park is arranged into three primary themed worlds: a tropical rainforest, an African savannah and a cold-climate/marine world, each with purpose-built enclosures and visitor pathways. Guests can expect mixed-species exhibits, indoor and outdoor viewing areas, and themed play and education facilities.

The site operated for decades as Dierenpark Emmen before closing for redevelopment and reopening in 2016 under the Wildlands name and concept. The redevelopment reorganised exhibits around the three-world concept and modernised visitor infrastructure.

Located in Emmen, in the northeast of the Netherlands, the zoo sits close to the A37 motorway and is within walking distance of the town centre and local public transport links.

• Reopening year: Reopened as Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen in 2016 following a major redevelopment and rebranding of the former Dierenpark Emmen.
• Park layout: Organised into three themed 'worlds' that group animals and habitats by climate and continent, improving immersive exhibits and visitor circulation.

What to See #

• Jungola: A tropical rainforest zone with canopy walkways, waterfalls and primates; houses a range of reptiles, birds and arboreal mammals in a humid indoor environment.
• Serenga: An open savannah-style area with large African mammals, mixed-species enclosures and wide viewing plains designed to recreate an African landscape.
• Nortica: A cold-climate zone focused on northern marine and polar species, with indoor pools and exhibits for species adapted to cooler conditions.