Plopsaland Belgium first opened its doors in De Panne back in 1935 as Meli Land, before being acquired by Plopsa in 1999 and reopening under its new name in 2000. Since then, it has grown into a celebrated theme park and wider resort, built around the colourful characters of the Studio 100 world.

With a household that had little prior knowledge of many of these characters, a little education was required before our visit. I spent some time introducing my two children, Calum (9) and Skye (5), to the likes of Plop, Wickie and Maya the Bee, with Maya naturally receiving the greatest attention given that she has always been my personal favourite. By the time we arrived, both were ready in their own very different ways. Calum had already pre-selected the rides he wanted to conquer, while Skye had a rather more cautious list of the ones she definitely didn't.

After a drive to De Panne that was accompanied by heavy rainfall, our arrival at Plopsaland was almost perfectly timed. We parked up, the clouds cleared, and, thankfully, the sunshine remained for the entire duration of our visit. A brief welcome show gave us our first taste of the characters, but the anticipation of actually getting onto the rides was simply too much, so we headed straight towards Mayaland.

The first challenge, however, was getting on a ride.

With the end of the summer holidays fast approaching, Plopsaland was absolutely rammed, and the threat of the rain returning had seemingly encouraged everyone with younger children to make a beeline for this indoor area. Mayaland was therefore every bit as busy as you might expect. Once the queues had been overcome, though, the wait proved worthwhile. The children loved the rides, but they were equally happy charging around the soft-play areas, slides and climbing structures. It was a useful reminder that for younger visitors, a theme park doesn't necessarily need to be all about the biggest and fastest attractions.

With the clouds now firmly cleared, it was time to take on the main park – and Plopsaland did not disappoint.

Yes, there were queues in places, but the majority of the rides felt worth the wait. Had I been visiting without the children, I would undoubtedly have made a beeline for The Ride to Happiness by Tomorrowland, which was named the best rollercoaster in Europe in 2025. With two young children in tow, however, our attention was focused elsewhere, and we found plenty to keep us entertained.

The Flying Bikes, The Spider's Web, The Flowery Merrygoround, The Suspension Bridge and The Coffee Cups all received repeat visits, with the children quickly developing their own favourites. Yet it was Wickie The Battle that initially captured all of our hearts. A water ride with an emphasis on attacking other park guests, it wasn't long before we were soaked from top to bottom as we battled those around us. Rather than being disappointed at getting drenched, we emerged laughing, dripping and ready to do it all over again. Sometimes the simplest attractions create the best memories.

The brief but enjoyable parade provided another opportunity to see some of the characters we'd spent weeks learning about, but it was actually the old-school rides that produced some of the biggest smiles. Calum became particularly obsessed with the Wienerwaltz, managing no fewer than eight rides, while Skye happily flitted between the Merry Go Round and Bumper Cars.

And this is perhaps where Plopsaland surprised me most. While the Studio 100 characters provide the obvious identity and branding, you don't need to know every character, have watched every show or arrive as a devoted fan to enjoy the park. The rides, atmosphere and variety are strong enough to stand on their own.

Food was another pleasant surprise. The options were tasty, vegetarian-friendly and, particularly by theme park standards, extremely fairly priced. After a full day of rides, the children were suitably exhausted, but there was still enough energy left for a little more exploring before we eventually headed home.

Plopsaland delivered exactly what we had hoped for: a fun, varied and surprisingly affordable family day out. The crowds and queues were certainly noticeable, particularly in Mayaland, but the quality and range of attractions meant that we rarely felt we'd waited for nothing. There was plenty for both a five-year-old and a nine-year-old to enjoy, while the bigger rides offer enough for older children and adults to keep things interesting.

Perhaps most importantly, the experience showed that you don't need to know the entire Studio 100 universe to appreciate Plopsaland. The characters add charm and give the park its identity, but it is the overall offer – the rides, water battles, old-school attractions, shows, food and atmosphere – that makes the day.

With two tired but very happy children climbing into the car at the end of our visit, Plopsaland had certainly done its job. It may have started life as Meli Land more than 90 years ago, but this is a theme park that has successfully evolved with the times while retaining enough charm to create the kind of family memories that last long after the final ride.

For more information, visit their official website.