The ultimate guide for visiting ZooParc Overloon with kids

Looking for a calm and child-friendly zoo in the Netherlands? ZooParc Overloon is one we highly recommend. We’ve visited this zoo in Overloon several times with our toddler and found it to be ideal for families with young children. When visiting ZooParc Overloon with kids, expect short walking distances, a clear route, and plenty to see and do. In this blog, we share our firsthand experience of ZooParc Overloon with a toddler, including what to expect, how long your visit will take, and the best activities for kids at ZooParc Overloon.

Visiting ZooParc Overloon with kids: tips, route & activities

Our experiences visiting ZooParc Overloon with a Toddler

By now, we’ve visited ZooParc Overloon several times with our toddler. It’s a small but lovely zoo, and one we genuinely enjoy. ZooParc Overloon is a great choice if you’re looking for a zoo in the Netherlands that you can explore in just a few hours, without needing to see the traditional ‘Big Five.’ The animal collection is nicely varied, with smaller animals like meerkats and red pandas, as well as larger ones such as lions and giraffes.

One of the things we really appreciate about ZooParc Overloon is how spacious it feels. While the zoo isn’t very large in terms of surface area, it’s green and pleasantly laid out. It doesn’t feel like a continuous row of enclosures, which is something you do see in some other zoos. Another big plus for us is how quiet it usually is. Even though we’ve visited multiple times, it’s always been relaxed, with plenty of space to view the animals without crowds standing in front of you.

To see everything in ZooParc Overloon, you follow a clearly marked route. Even though the zoo is relatively compact, it still takes about two hours to complete the full route. There aren’t many shortcuts along the way. The zoo is divided into several themed “worlds,” or expedition areas, each inspired by a different part of the world. These include Headquarter, Boulders Beach, Outback, Jangalee, Ngorongoro, Itampolo, and Madidi. In 2025, the zoo expanded significantly with a brand-new expedition area called Ngyuwe.

The route through ZooParc Overloon

The route through ZooParc Overloon always starts at Boulders Beach, home to the penguins. These penguins roam freely and aren’t shy at all, they often walk right up to you or the stroller. It’s a great way to start the visit for kids. Luca always runs enthusiastically toward the penguins, although he hasn’t quite grasped yet that he’s not allowed to pet them.

Next, you enter the Outback, where you can walk freely among the kangaroos, though you do have to stay on the path. Several kangaroo species live here, including wallabies and red kangaroos, and there are also dromedaries. We usually start our ZooParc visit around 10:00 a.m., and quite often there’s a kangaroo presentation happening while we’re in the Outback. Our toddler is still a bit too young to really understand it, but older children often find it fascinating to learn about kangaroo anatomy, how long a joey stays in the pouch, and much more.

From there, you arrive in Jangalee, the Asian-themed expedition area. This is where you’ll find animals such as the new clouded leopards and the Siberian tigers. The tigers live alone in their enclosure and can be tricky to spot, which means smaller children don’t always see them. At the back of the enclosure, there’s a glass wall where you can look inside, and the tiger often walks right past it. The last time we were there, one of the tigers was swimming. Luca still talks about it.

Ngorongoro is the largest area in the zoo. This is where you’ll find the African animals, including lions, giraffes, ostriches, hippos, African wild dogs, antelopes, camels, a cheetah, and meerkats. There are four lions, all males. In the middle of their enclosure is a safari vehicle, which they love to climb onto. When we walk by, they’re often stretched out lazily on top of it. The cheetah lives alone and, unfortunately, isn’t always visible.

For many kids, Itampolo is the highlight of the zoo. This is where the ring-tailed lemurs roam freely. Sometimes they sit in trees or on the roof of their shelter, but other times they walk along the ground or even jump onto your stroller. They’re not shy at all, and Luca absolutely loves chasing after the ‘little monkeys’.

Ngyuwe is the newest part of the zoo. This expedition area focuses on tropical Africa and is home to animals such as the okapi, drill, and pygmy hippos. There are also several indoor enclosures here, where you can see the animals up close.

Madidi is the final expedition area along the route and is inspired by South America. Here you’ll find flamingos, capybaras, vicuñas, a sloth, and spectacled caimans. There are also many monkey species in this area, including black spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, capuchins, and golden lion tamarins. Giant anteaters and raccoons also live in this part of the zoo.

Activities for kids at ZooParc Overloon

Watching animals is great, but there are more activities for kids at ZooParc Overloon. The zoo has two playgrounds. If you follow the route, you’ll reach the first playground halfway through, near the Basecamp by the giraffes. This playground is more suitable for older children and includes a slide and a raft that kids can pull themselves across the water. Luca can now climb the frame with a little help, but overall this playground isn’t ideal for toddlers. There’s also a safari bus at the Basecamp, which is a big hit—especially if you’re patient enough to let your child sit behind the wheel for a while.

The second playground is much larger and is located at the end of the route, near the Headquarter and Madidi. This playground has multiple slides, swings, games, a bouncy cushion, and a zip line. Both playgrounds have plenty of picnic tables, making it easy for parents to sit down and enjoy something to eat or drink.

To make the experience even more adventurous for children, ZooParc Overloon has created small adventure trails along the route. These are short climbing paths with elements like steps and balance challenges, allowing kids to take little detours off the main path.

The zoo also regularly organizes events that are fun for children. Daily feeding presentations take place at enclosures such as the kangaroos, lions, and giraffes. During school holidays, there are often special themes. Recently, for example, the theme was dinosaurs, with dinosaur models placed throughout the park and themed scavenger hunts for children.

Child-Friendly Restaurants

ZooParc Overloon has two restaurants. The largest one is located at the Headquarter and operates as a self-service buffet, offering items such as sandwiches, apple turnovers, and fries. There’s a large indoor seating area, as well as two terraces—one overlooking the penguins and the other facing the large bouncy cushion.

Halfway along the route, near the playground at the Basecamp, you’ll find the second restaurant. This one is much smaller and offers a more limited selection, mainly snacks. On quieter days, this food outlet is often closed and is usually only open during weekends and school holidays.

FAQ – ZooParc Overloon with kids

---

Related blogs