GaiaZOO Kerkrade

GaiaZoo is a zoo located in Kerkrade in the southeast of the Dutch province of Limburg, near the German border at Aachen. The 25-hectare site is home to 1,500 animals and almost 150 different species. The zoo is divided into four large areas: Taiga, Rainforest, Savanna, and Limburg.

Taiga

In the “Taiga” area, you will find many endangered species that live in cold and densely forested areas in Europe, America, or Asia. Here you will not only find lynxes, wolves, eagle owls, and deer, but also various bird species that visitors can observe in a walk-in aviary. There is also an aquarium with beavers and numerous different species of freshwater fish to discover here. In addition, there is a bird of prey flight show twice a day. The “Coffee & Ice Cream Corner” snack bar offers ice cream and a selection of hot and cold drinks. Right next door, when the weather is nice, kids can let off steam splashing around in the “Sequoia” water playground.

Limburg

In the central “Limburg” area, you can marvel at farm animals and native animals such as cows, owls, and wild boars. Other highlights of this area include the petting zoo and the large “Dino Dome”. Covering an area of 2,500 square meters, the “Dino Dome” is Europe's largest indoor playground with lots of slides and climbing frames.

Rainforest

When you visit the “Rainforest” themed area, you can see inhabitants of the tropical rainforest from South America and Africa. Gorillas, pygmy hippos, raccoons, and many small lizards live here, for example. A huge aviary, which is home to numerous flying animals, is another attraction in the area. You can try typical South American dishes in the Argentine restaurant “Pampe Lodge.” Meanwhile, the little ones can let off steam on the exciting rope bridges at the TreeTopTour.

Savanna

As the name suggests, the Savanna themed area is home to typical African animals. From meerkats and mighty lions to large white rhinos and giraffes, this is where the animals of the savanna live. Between the African greyhound enclosure and the flamingo aviary, the Savanna Lodge restaurant invites you to take a break. The African-style restaurant offers traditional African dishes. Close by is the new SavannaTour climbing playground, which is sure to delight children with its slides and numerous play options.

GaiaZoo officially opened in July 2005. The park is the only zoo in Europe to have been completely rebuilt in the 21st century. Based on the concept of the Apenheul monkey park in Apeldoorn, the park is dedicated to the so-called Gaia hypothesis. This states that the Earth and all life on it should be regarded as a single living organism. The park therefore attempts to present the habitats it features as a whole, where animals, landscapes, and humans belong together.

GaiaZoo can be reached by car or public transportation such as train or bus. 

By car

• If you are traveling by car, you can take the A4 or A76 highway, depending on which direction you are coming from. Take the exit towards Kerkrade and follow the signs to “GaiaZOO.” The zoo is located at Dentgenbachweg 105 in Kerkrade and is well signposted.
• The zoo is only a 20-minute drive from Aachen.
• There is paid parking on site where you can park your car. The zoo also has 10 charging points for electric vehicles.

By public transport

If you prefer public transport, you can take the train to Kerkrade Centrum station. From the station, you can either walk to GaiaZOO (it's about a 20-25 minute walk) or take a bus. There are bus lines that stop near the zoo.