Maarten de Jong

Review of Diergaarde Blijdorp

Been a lot already, even now that I no longer live...

Been a lot already, even now that I no longer live in Rotterdam but an hour away we still go often with the family and have a subscription.
Blijdorp has the unique gift of providing a wonderful day with the family during a normal visit, but also regularly offering unique experiences if you know where to look.
A few tips, in no specific order but from the heel to the branch:
- Download the app and note the feeding times.
- Feeding the sea lions is a must-see. Make sure that you are on the left viewing platform 10 minutes before feeding, then you are in front and you have the best view. It is certainly spectacular for the children (but also for the adults) to see and is always very nice done by the caretaker. Above too full / are you a little late? Downstairs in front of the large window gives a very different picture but is also great to watch from there.
- The feeding of the rays may sound a bit boring, but these beautiful animals are fed by hand from the visitor's side over the glass one by one. You are literally beside it and all rays know exactly what time it is, so they all gather at the caretaker. There is some splattering ...
- In the butterfly garden, the enormous fish (lost from the name) and the piranhas are fed one after the other. Again a lot of swirling water, with a good story from the caretakers. The butterfly garden is definitely recommended, especially with small children, and don't forget the frogs, snake and turtle cages on the side of the butterfly garden. And it's very hot!
- There are more animals that are fed on a schedule, which you can plan well, but these are our favorites. In addition, sometimes you just have to be lucky: A snake that just gets a mouse or the wild boar that gets a bowl of fruit and vegetables thrown into the loft. A bit of right place / right time, but that makes it even more fun if you happen to be there.
- In terms of animals, the big boys are great at Blijdorp. The elephants have a beautiful outdoor area where you can walk almost all the way through a beautiful path, with the tigers you walk into the enclosure with windows on both sides, so there is sometimes only a glass wall and 30 cm separating you from the huge beast (and they regularly show up close), the lions have a nice inside and outside loft and if the polar bear is swimming, keep waiting! Best chance that he seeks interaction at the window, and that is unique! And of course Bokito and family: inside you can see very well and from close by, despite Blijdorp's effort to give good visibility, I find it a bit less, but on the contrary completely customized for the gorillas and that is ultimately what it's all about. I personally like it when you can get close to the animals, but given the history maybe a little less advisable with Bokito.
- Tips for smaller / lesser-known animals: the Amur panther (beautiful beast, doesn't show much), the penguins (shooting through the water), the fishing cats (hidden gem) and seahorses (in the oceanium and yes, your children are alone but find Nemo in the bins next to it).
- The oceanium is of course a showpiece of the zoo. Immediately at the entrance, it is one of the first locations the visitor goes through. We often skip the oceanium because it gets very noisy in the first part at the aquariums and the underwater tunnel, but if you go once you have to go through it. I would recommend looking for a quiet moment: If you are early, first go deeper into the park and leave the oceanium before the end.
- There are so many more beautiful places and animals to discover in Blijdorp. Time and again!
- Do you think you go more often? You can cancel a subscription in 3 visits. And if you decide to take out a subscription at the end of your visit, they will settle the ticket for that day in your subscription.
- Plan your visit, think about what you want to see, but be especially surprised! After fifty visits I still find those unique moments.