Julius Minnaar (53) from Naarden will succeed the departing Erik van Engelen as director of the Wildlands Zoo and the Atlas Theater in Emmen. Last week, the park could already report white smoke, but kept the name to itself for a while. Minnaar will officially take over in June.
Van Engelen announced his departure in January. In 2018 he succeeded Frankwin van Beers in the position of interim director. At that time, the park was struggling with a million shortfall. Wildlands is now writing black figures again. A good time for Van Engelen to make way for a successor.
Minnaar himself has earned his spurs in his role as a director at media companies such as IPG Mediabrands and Dentsu. He also worked at De Ster and De Tros, among others. The new director says he has a great love for animals and nature, which he has inherited from an early age. “I am very much looking forward to entering the next phase with this beautiful park and my new colleagues. It is an honorable position and I would like to achieve further growth for these two companies,” he says.
Drenthe is not unknown territory for the new director of Wildlands. “My wife grew up in Emmen and my parents-in-law still live there; we are looking forward to living in beautiful Drenthe soon.”
Van Engelen will remain on as director until about June. Inquiries show that he is still considering his future plans.