Dinoland

Dinoland in Zwolle is an indoor and outdoor attraction for families with children who are fascinated by dinosaurs. It combines life-sized models with play areas and activities, and it is designed so that young visitors can run around, dig and climb instead of just looking at displays. For parents it is a convenient option on a rainy day, since a large part of it is under cover, and it is one of the main family destinations in the Overijssel capital.

The models are the core of the experience. More than a hundred of them, ranging from small creatures to giants, show animals from the long period of time that dinosaurs dominated the earth, arranged in settings that give a sense of scale. Children can see how big a Tyrannosaurus rex really was and compare it with the long-necked plant eaters, and there is information about what the animals ate and how they lived. Some of the models move or make sounds, which delights younger children and sometimes frightens the very smallest.

Activities fill much of the day. A fossil dig lets children search the sand for bones, much as palaeontologists do, and there is a clay workshop for making your own dinosaur. The indoor play area has slides and a ball pit, with a separate zone for toddlers, and the outdoor playgrounds are built in imaginative shapes. Educational programmes include the T-Rexpedition, developed with Naturalis, the national natural history museum in Leiden, which explores the biology of Tyrannosaurus rex, and there are shows with rangers at weekends and in school holidays. Older children may like the mini-golf and the laser-tag arena.

Practical points help. Tickets are often cheaper when bought online ahead of time, and popular days such as school holidays can be crowded, so arriving early is wise. Plan for two to four hours, depending on the age of the children, and bring a change of clothes for children who get muddy in the dig. There are places to eat on site, but it helps to check prices and opening days before you go.

Zwolle itself offers plenty to do afterwards. The old centre, with the Sassenpoort city gate and the Hanseatic canals, is attractive, and the Anningahof sculpture park and the sculpture route from the station suit those who want a quieter outing. The IJsselhallen host events in the same city. Dinoland suits families with children from toddlers to early teens, and especially those who love dinosaurs.