From Het Laatste Nieuws | tekst Gudrun Steen
“After working through the night, we completed our final inspection at 8:30 a.m. An hour later, the very first visitors arrived.” Steven Maeyaert, co-managing director of the Veurne-based construction company Furnibo, served as site manager during the construction of Plopsaland in De Panne. Today, 25 years later, he is still closely involved in the park’s ongoing expansion. From the Dancing Fountains to the Plopsaland Theater Hotel: this is what happens behind the scenes. “This well-known building will soon be demolished to make way for a new project. Let’s hope we get the chance to build that one as well.”
“It all started with the construction of De Vleermuis. That was the first major new attraction at Plopsaland, although it has since disappeared. What followed was, quite literally and figuratively, a rollercoaster.”
Steven Maeyaert laughs as he looks back. Twenty-five years ago, then working as a site manager, he found himself standing in the mud, trying to bring some structure to the chaos.
“It was astonishing. Furnibo was one of many contractors involved. The preparation for the park’s opening took around six months. At that time, our company had only 25 employees. During the final week, we put everyone on the project to finish everything on time. It went far beyond our usual scope of work — we even helped with cleaning and collecting waste. That sense of togetherness with everyone who was there at the time is something I will never forget. No matter how hectic or chaotic things became, we never lost sight of our shared goal: making sure the park opened on time.”
Furnibo’s to-do list was far from short. In 1999, in addition to De Vleermuis, the company also built the Plop Hamburger Restaurant, the Forest of Plop and the Duck Pond attraction. The following year brought even more work: the Dancing Fountains on the village square, the Grand Theatre — which at that time was housed in a tent on the site where Wickieland now stands — Wizzy’s Kitchen near the RollerSkater, the Fred Kroket restaurant (located where Frituur De Spiegeltent stands today), the Small Theatre on what is now the Circus Bumba site, and the Storm at Sea boats in the Pirate Zone.
The parking area also received a major upgrade. Meanwhile, the Peter Pan beetle ride from the former Meli Park was relocated to a more central position, where it continues to operate today as the #LikeMe Coaster.
"Looking back at that long list, it really was an intense period,” Steven recalls. “We were often on site from 6 a.m. and worked through until 8 p.m. What I remember most are the conditions. It was a wet winter and, especially in the final weeks before opening, absolute madness. Fortunately, we could always rely on our main point of contact: investment director Luc Van der Biest, who retired last year. Every day between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., he would bring us hot soup and do his best to keep an overview of everything.”
“As the deadline approached, the stress levels rose. I still remember that after working through the night, we did our final check around the park at 8:30 in the morning to make sure everything was ready. An hour later, the first visitors arrived. There was no big opening event, but even then it felt like a decent crowd. Of course, nothing compared to what it is today.”
What was chaotic in those early years now runs with far more structure as the park continues to expand — something Steven can confirm, as Furnibo remains a trusted partner even today. “We now work with detailed plans, just like on our other construction sites. But I do see two major differences. The creative minds behind the theming never stop, even while a project is underway. That means we often have to adapt plans several times during construction. And flexibility is essential when working towards tight deadlines.”
“To give you an example: there is currently a new project on the table. We are in the running, but the contract has not yet been awarded. Construction is scheduled to start this autumn.”
Why is Furnibo so motivated to continue contributing to the development of Plopsaland? “Our collaboration is built on trust and mutual respect,” Steven explains. “We do what we promise. Every project is a challenge, but the continuity on both sides makes things easier. Luc Van der Biest was succeeded by Dieter Deketelaere, who has also been active in the park for many years. And of course, we get to share in the holiday atmosphere that’s always present during construction.”
“We truly consider it an honour - and a strong reference - to be involved in these projects. Furnibo has hosted its company family day at the park several times. Employees and their families start the day with breakfast together, followed by a full day of fun.”
When Steven looks back on 25 years of Plopsaland, a few projects clearly stand out. “In 2003, the construction of De Draak was the biggest project. The Station Building on the village square was also a major undertaking. That building will soon be demolished to make way for something new — and we hope we’ll be the ones to build it again. We also delivered the current entrance area, the Super Splash and the Spring Flyer, which is now known as the Nachtwacht Flyer.”
He also points to the construction of the Plopsaqua water park, a project that spanned two years. “A similar timeframe was needed for the Plopsaland Theater Hotel, completed in 2020. It features 117 rooms, including 11 themed suites. Our most recent project at the park was Plopsaland Village, consisting of 55 villas and 21 chalets.”
