A Japanese theme park operator wants to export a slice of Dutch life to other countries in Asia. New Huis Ten Bosch parks could be built in countries including China.
Named after one of the residencies of the Dutch royal family, the existing Huis Ten Bosch theme park is located in Sasebo, Nagasaki. It features replica windmills, canals, buildings and plazas typical of those found in the Netherlands. A similar park in the Dutch country itself, Het Land van Ooit founded by the Taminiau family, ceased trading in 2007 after 18 years in business.
Cities with 10 million to 30 million potential customers will be considered for future parks. Negotiations have already begun at several potential locations, it was revealed at a recent press conference. The Japanese operator estimates it will take two to three years to complete each project. It expects to invest ¥100 to 200 billion ($910m to $1.82bn) per park, together with local partners
For now, the company will focus on attracting guests from the Tokyo metropolitan area.Launching on June 24 will be a virtual reality tour with five different experiences. From July to August, Huis Ten Bosch will operate a temporary swimming pool on the island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay.
Image courtesy Huis Ten Bosch Japan
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Japan-s-Huis-Ten-Bosch-theme-park-mulls-global-expansion