No longer a Zoo... as it has been transformed into a nature park.
Between 2014 and 2017, Zwin in Knokke-Heist was closed for a major renovation. At that time, the decision was made to renovate the small animal park on a large scale, and a complete redesign. They renovated it from a small animal park with several aviary's into a nature park without any cages. First step was the realisation of a new visitor infrastructure.
The outdated buildings and cages, ponds, walking paths and asphalt parking are replaced by a wetland nature area, which should be attractive to the numerous birds that breed and pass by in the Zwin.
Eye-catchers became the visitor center and the viewing center, offering a recreational and educational experience of the Zwin-nature and in particular the bird migration. Both buildings were implanted horizontally in the landscape. The Zwin polders (connected to the nature park) are also updated, and it was upgraded with major work to protect it for the future (higher sea level / storms). The polder grew no less than 120ha.
In attachment a picture from the current park, as also a plan and some pictures from the old 'animal park'. The old collection has been moved to other parks by now. At the moment they only have 'wild' birds.
Between 2014 and 2017, Zwin in Knokke-Heist was closed for a major renovation. At that time, the decision was made to renovate the small animal park on a large scale, and a complete redesign. They renovated it from a small animal park with several aviary's into a nature park without any cages. First step was the realisation of a new visitor infrastructure.
The outdated buildings and cages, ponds, walking paths and asphalt parking are replaced by a wetland nature area, which should be attractive to the numerous birds that breed and pass by in the Zwin.
Eye-catchers became the visitor center and the viewing center, offering a recreational and educational experience of the Zwin-nature and in particular the bird migration. Both buildings were implanted horizontally in the landscape. The Zwin polders (connected to the nature park) are also updated, and it was upgraded with major work to protect it for the future (higher sea level / storms). The polder grew no less than 120ha.
In attachment a picture from the current park, as also a plan and some pictures from the old 'animal park'. The old collection has been moved to other parks by now. At the moment they only have 'wild' birds.
