DinoSplash

In November 2025, DinoSplash returned to the news because of a striking technical incident. Looopings described how the log flume stopped on a Saturday around 17:05 and how the evacuation that followed did not go as smoothly as visitors and fan sites expected. Footage from MR Plopsa showed several boats lined up on the large conveyor lift toward the highest point of the ride. Staff tried to restart the lift, but because too much weight was resting on the belt, the boats slid backwards down the incline. One boat even splashed backwards into the water. Plopsaland later confirmed that a rollback had occurred during the restart attempt and that employees then decided to evacuate the guests. According to the park, the situation was handled safely. For fans, the article is relevant because it exposes the mechanics behind the classic Mack Rides flume. DinoSplash has carried a fresh dinosaur theme since 2019, but underneath that layer remains an older log flume from 1989, with machinery that immediately draws attention when something goes wrong.

On 3 July 2020, Looopings could report that DinoSplash was finally complete. Visitors had already been able to try the renewed water ride the year before, but several pieces of scenery were still missing at that point. During the winter, Plopsaland De Panne finished the attraction with additional dinosaurs, paintwork and planting, allowing the former De Boomstammetjes to be presented as a fully rounded dinosaur world. The official opening did not go as originally planned. Plopsaland had intended to open DinoSplash ceremonially during the Easter holidays, but the COVID crisis kept the park closed until 1 July and visitor numbers remained limited afterwards. As a result, the launch was much quieter than a project of this scale would normally deserve. For visitors, the news still marked an important end point: the 1989 log flume had received a new identity after years of decline, demolition and interim versions. For fans, the article closed the major renovation cycle, from Samson and castle scenery to a completed jungle of volcanoes and dinosaurs.

In July 2019, the transformation of De Boomstammetjes reached the visitor stage. Looopings reported that Plopsaland De Panne had opened the renewed log flume DinoSplash, even though the major refurbishment was not yet fully finished. Guests could once again ride the classic flume, now passing smoking volcanoes, lava flows and dinosaurs along the route. At the same time, it was clear that this was still an interim version: additional scenery and moving dinosaurs would be added later, and the official opening was scheduled for spring 2020. The article also highlighted how radical the thematic shift had become. The attraction began in 1989 as Splash, later received the Samson castle theme and then operated as De Boomstammetjes. With DinoSplash, Plopsaland deliberately chose a more universal theme that was not built around a Studio 100 character. For visitors, the news meant an old water ride had returned as an almost new experience; for fans, it was the first real look at a project that had been discussed for months.