Bellewaerde CEO Luc Florizoone passed away

Bellewaerde Park opens its doors in 1954. Albert Florizoone, founder of Bellewaerde, dies in 1967.

It is his son Luc who takes over the torch a year later. He is then 27 years old. “I started with the safari as it existed then. But I soon saw that we needed attractions. More specifically, a water attraction,” said Luc in a report on 60 years of Bellewaerde. That attraction became widely known as ‘the tree trunks’.

American influence

Bellewaerde soon grew into a large family amusement park. The lion as a mascot is also an integral part of the park’s history.

In the early 1990s, Bellewaerde merged with Walibi to be able to go public. Luc is still present. But when the American influence becomes too great in 1997, due to the takeover of the company Six Flags, Luc and his brother are forced to resign.

It is not clear from what Florizoone died. His farewell will take place in the Sint-Catharinakerk in Zillebeke on June 16 at 10.30 am.