Dadipark
This amusement park for kids, Dadipark in Dadizele, made a small village famous. The park closed in 2003, and not long after, nature took over the field, causing the attractions to start rusting.
Local priest Deweert opened the park in October 1949. In fact, in the early years, the park was named ‘Daiselpark’. “Where the kids are king” was the slogan of this playground. It was not aimed at large modern attractions but was rather an accessible and affordable park for young children.
One of the main reasons for the closure was poor safety and security. This issue became clear in 2000 when a child nearly lost his arm on a toy jet. In 2002, they announced a year-long renovation closure for the park, but it has remained closed since then.
I took these photos during my visits to the abandoned site in 2005 and 2010. In 2011, the city announced the demolition of the park, marking its disappearance after more than 60 years. Eventually, in June 2016, the city announced that the old site will be a green recreation and living area. The name ‘Dadipark’ will remain. Follow this link for more abandoned amusement parks.
