What Dierenpark Hoenderdaell does

Dierenpark Hoenderdaell is a privately held 30-hectare animal park and nature reserve operated by Landgoed Hoenderdaell B.V. in Anna Paulowna, North Holland, Netherlands. Founded in 1992 as a personal hobby by owner Robert Kruijff and organized as a Dutch private limited company, the park has grown into what it self-describes as the second-largest animal park in the Netherlands, with a 4.7/5 Google rating across 6,729 reviews and a claimed leadership position in NPS among Dutch outings. The estate spans 75 hectares, including 32 hectares of afforested former agricultural land with approximately 110,000 trees planted since 2005, and operates entirely on renewable energy — gas-free since construction, with geothermal heating and rooftop solar panels added in 2022. The park functions simultaneously as a visitor attraction and an animal welfare sanctuary, hosting two specialized foundations: Stichting Leeuw, which runs Europe's largest big cat shelter featuring the world's only hunting simulator for big cat rehabilitation, and SOS Dolfijn, which operates Northwest Europe's only cetacean rehabilitation center since relocating to the estate in 2020.

The company generates revenue through nine diversified streams: day tickets (€18 adult, €12 child 3-4, free under 3), annual passes (€42.50 adult, €22.50 preschooler), on-site catering across two locations (Restaurant Leeuw year-round, Spa Groen seasonal), souvenir retail, animal feeding experiences (€0.50 alpaca, €1 lorikeet), guided group tours (€40 per group of up to 15), tiered school trip packages (€14-€18 per pupil), corporate meeting room rentals across three configurable rooms for up to 45 people, and optional €1 donations to the two foundations at checkout. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via an in-house webshop and gate sales, with dedicated booking flows for schools, guided tours, and corporate meetings, and a new public transit partnership — the Hoenderdaell Express bus line 858 operated by Connexxion — launching as a two-year pilot in July 2026 with backing from the Province of North Holland.

The park's core technology comprises its proprietary big cat hunting simulator (a pulley-driven system that moves meat through a hall to rehabilitate rescued lions and tigers by rebuilding hunting instincts) and its Positive Reinforcement Training methodology for birds of prey and owls, both cited as unique in the industry. Customer segmentation is horizontal across families with children (primary), school groups (primary), corporate groups, tourists via the new bus route, and animal welfare supporters. The entity has no parent company, no institutional investors, no disclosed revenue or headcount figures, and no public funding rounds, having grown organically over three decades under sole ownership.

Name

Dierenpark Hoenderdaell

Legal name

Landgoed Hoenderdaell B.V.

Website

https://hoenderdaell.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dierenpark Hoenderdaell is a privately held 30-hectare animal park in Anna Paulowna, Netherlands, combining a visitor attraction with an animal rescue center. It houses Europe's largest big cat shelter and Northwest Europe's only cetacean rehabilitation center, serving families, schools, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Park / Zoo Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC), Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

Keywords

• Animal park services
• Zoo admission tickets
• Wildlife rescue center
• Family day outings
• School trip packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Anna Paulowna

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Day tickets sold online (€18 for adults, €12 for children 3-4 years, free for under 2) with a €1.50 discount compared to gate pricing. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Annual Passes: Personal annual passes sold for €42.50 (adults) and €22.50 (children 3-4 years), valid for 12 months. Renewals available online.
3. Food & Beverage: Two catering points operate in the park: Spa Groen (seasonal) and Restaurant Leeuw (year-round). Revenues from freshly prepared sandwiches, fries, drinks, and snacks.
4. Animal Feeding: Sale of special animal feed: lorikeet food €1 and alpaca feed €0.50 for visitors to feed animals.
5. Souvenir Shop: Souvenir shop at the entrance selling gifts and memorabilia.
6. Meeting & Event Venue Rental: Three meeting rooms available for corporate events, training, and presentations: 'Leeuw' (110m², up to 45 people), 'Tijger' (75m², up to 25 people), and combined 'Poema+Tijger' (110m², up to 45 people).
7. Guided Tours: Guided tours for groups offered at €40 per group (maximum 15 people per guide), with optional lunch packages.
8. School Trip Packages: School packages at three levels: Panther (€14 p.p.), Lion (€15.50 p.p.), and Tiger (€18 p.p.), including admission, drinks, fries, and optional snacks/ice lollies.
9. Donations to Foundations: Optional add-on donations of €1 to support Stichting Leeuw (big cats) or SOS Dolfijn (cetaceans) during ticket purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dierenpark Hoenderdaell is a 30-hectare animal park located within a 75-hectare nature reserve in Anna Paulowna, Netherlands, selling day admission tickets and annual passes to families, school groups, and tourists. The park uniquely houses two animal rescue foundations — Stichting Leeuw (Europe's largest big cat shelter with the world's only hunting simulator) and SOS Dolfijn (Northwest Europe's only cetacean rehabilitation center) — making it both a leisure attraction and an active animal welfare facility. Secondary offerings include school trip packages, guided tours, corporate meeting venue rentals, animal feeding experiences, and on-site food and beverage service.

Product overview

Dierenpark Hoenderdaell operates a 30-hectare animal park in Anna Paulowna, Netherlands, functioning as both a visitor attraction and animal rescue center. The core product is admission (day tickets from €18 online, annual passes from €42.50), sold through an online booking system. Secondary offerings include group experiences (school trips from €14 p.p., guided tours at €40/group, meeting rooms up to 110 m²), animal interactions (feeding experiences from €0.50), and catering services. The park houses two specialized sub-brands—Stichting Leeuw (Europe's largest big cat shelter with hunting simulator rehabilitation) and SOS Dolfijn (Northwest Europe's only cetacean rehabilitation center)—both accessible to park visitors as included destinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Tickets Admission tickets to Dierenpark Hoenderdaell available for online purchase (€18 adults, €12 children 3-4) with a €1.50 discount or at the gate (€19.50/€13.50). Children under 3 enter free. Primary revenue stream for the park.
• Annual Passes Personal annual passes valid for 12 months at €42.50 for adults and €22.50 for preschoolers (3-4 years, available only at the gate with valid ID). Renewable online. Includes a €3.50 replacement fee for lost passes.
• School Trip Packages Educational day trips for school groups with three tiered packages: Panther (€14 p.p., admission + drink box + fries), Lion (€15.50 p.p., adds ice lolly), and Tiger (€18 p.p., adds hot snack such as croquette, hotdog, or cheese pie). Admission-only option at €10 p.p. for elementary schools with €2 supplement for secondary schools.
• Guided Tours Professional guided tours for groups up to 15 people per guide at €40 per group, with optional lunch packages available.
• Meeting Rooms (Corporate Venue Rental) Three meeting spaces for corporate events, training, and presentations: 'Leeuw' (110m², up to 45 people), 'Tijger' (75m², up to 25 people), and combined 'Poema+Tijger' (110m², up to 45 people). Equipped with WiFi and large touchscreen.
• Animal Feeding Experiences Interactive animal feeding experiences available to visitors, including lorikeet food (€1 per portion) and alpaca feed (€0.50 per portion). Daily feeding demonstrations at monkey islands.
• Food & Beverage (Spa Groen and Restaurant Leeuw) On-site dining at two catering locations: Spa Groen (seasonal) and Restaurant Leeuw (year-round). Offers freshly filled sandwiches, fried foods, drinks, and snacks.
• Souvenir Shop Souvenir shop at the park entrance selling gifts and memorabilia to visitors.
• Online Booking System Web-based reservation system at webshop.hoenderdaell.nl allowing visitors to pre-book visit slots, purchase day tickets and annual passes with discounts, renew annual passes, and reserve special experiences.
• Wheelchair Rental Wheelchair rental at €3 plus €25 deposit, reservation required by email in advance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 provincial titles as 'Leukste Uitje van Noord-Holland' (Most Fun Outing in North Holland)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and core.

• ConnexxionstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 July 2026Public transport operator running the Hoenderdaell Express (bus line 858) as a 2-year pilot starting July 4, 2026. Bus connects Anna Paulowna station with vacation parks in Schagen and Petten areas. Province of North Holland investing over €77,000 in the pilot period.
• Douane (Dutch Customs)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Collaboration for protection of endangered species. Park supplies bird feathers from molting birds as reference material for customs officials and the Customs Laboratory to help identify protected bird species in confiscated products and souvenirs.
• Universiteit Leiden, Zodion, Van Hall LarensteinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Research partnership for wolf research. Wolf 'Ghost' received GPS collar during health check. Pilot study to test GPS technology performance and reliability on wolves. If successful, technology could be deployed in national wild wolf research program.
• Gemeente Hollands KroonminorOthers · 1 January 2022Municipality organized staff meeting at the park in 2022. Positive feedback received from municipality representative praising event organization and collaboration.
• Stichting SOS DolfijncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2020Cetacean rescue and rehabilitation organization. Only rehabilitation center for whales and dolphins in Northwest Europe. Moved to Landgoed Hoenderdaell in 2020/2021. Provides hospital for harbor porpoises, dolphins, and whales. Educational whale sanctuary visible to park visitors. Also helps stranded animals in France, Germany, and Belgium.
• Stichting LeeuwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig cat rescue foundation headquartered at Dierenpark Hoenderdaell. Takes in lions, tigers, and other big cats from circuses, private owners, and war situations. Runs the world's only hunting simulator for rehabilitation. When possible, animals are prepared for relocation to natural habitats (e.g., South Africa via The Lions Foundation sister organization).
• VONK (Vakschool Nature, Environment, Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership (formerly Clusius College and ROC Kop van Noord-Holland). Students follow gardening/horticulture training (MBO level 2 and entrance level) at the park. TPL teacher Yke Posthumus drives collaboration. Students help with landscaping, green maintenance, paving, and animal enclosure fencing. Park owner Robert Kruijff states 'we can no longer do without them.'
• Regius College SchagenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainability initiative. Special waste bins created with images of animals suffering from litter/plastic soup to raise visitor awareness about waste separation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Burgers' Zoo: Major Dutch zoo in Arnhem with comparable eco-display philosophy (large naturalistic habitats) and similar mix of family admission, school programs, and corporate venue rental; operates at a slightly larger scale but with parallel business model.
• GaiaZOO: Dutch zoo in Kerkrade with similar regional positioning, conservation messaging, and family/educational segment focus; closely comparable scale and ticket price point to Hoenderdaell.
• Ouwehands Dierenpark: Mid-sized Dutch zoo in Rhenen with similar emphasis on big-cat species and conservation messaging; comparable in scale, ticket price point, and family/educational positioning to Hoenderdaell in the Dutch regional zoo segment.
• Apenheul: Dutch primate-focused zoo in Apeldoorn with comparable 'walk among animals' experience model (visitors enter lemur/monkey enclosures), similar price band, and similar school-trip and family-day-trip positioning to Hoenderdaell's interactive animal encounters.

Broad incumbents

• Safaripark Beekse Bergen: Largest safari/wildlife park in the Netherlands operated by Libéma; competes with Hoenderdaell for the same family day-trip segment with safari-drive and walk-through formats but at materially larger scale and different operating model.
• Pairi Daiza: Largest privately owned zoo in Belgium, often compared to Dutch regional zoos for family day-trip and educational programming; overlaps with Hoenderdaell on conservation/rescue messaging and corporate event hosting but operates at much larger scale and serves cross-border Belgian/Dutch/French tourism.
• Diergaarde Blijdorp: Larger historic Dutch zoo in Rotterdam with broader species collection, deeper conservation programming, and stronger institutional partnerships; competes for the same family and school-trip wallet but at premium price point with greater brand recognition.
• Artis Royal Zoo: Amsterdam's historic zoo and one of the oldest in Europe, combining zoo with aquarium, planetarium, and botanical garden; much larger institutional player that competes for Dutch family tourism and corporate events but at a significantly higher scale and price point.

Regional players

• Antwerp Zoo: One of Europe's oldest zoos in Belgium, with comparable mix of family admission, school programs, conservation partnerships, and corporate venue use; serves as a regional peer for Hoenderdaell in the broader Benelux family-outing market.

Emerging players

• AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection): Dutch primate/exotic animal rescue and rehoming organization with public-facing shelter; comparable to Stichting Leeuw and SOS Dolfijn in mission (rescue from circuses, illegal trade, private owners) but with primate rather than big-cat/cetacean focus — useful peer for understanding the Dutch animal-welfare rescue segment in which Hoenderdaell operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hoenderdaell
• Instagraminstagram.com/dierenparkhoenderdaell
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hoenderdaell

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dierenpark Hoenderdaell