Hippodroom Groenendaal

Hippodroom Groenendaal

Hippodroom Groenendaal

A stadium for horse racing and chariot racing in Belgium

By Alan | 19 December 2010

MVRDV - Expo 2000 Hannover

© Alan Cuypers | Wadi Rum

History

Definition

Hippodrome is a term sometimes used for public entertainment venues of various types. A modern example is the Hippodrome which opened in London in 1900 “combining circus, hippodrome, and stage performances”.

Etymology

The word “hippodrome” is derived from Ancient Greek hippódromos (Greek: ἱππόδρομος), a stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name itself is a compound of the words híppos (Greek: ἵππος), meaning “horse”, and drómos (Greek: δρόμος), meaning “course”. The ancient Roman counterpart was the circus.

Description

One end of the hippodromos of the Ancient Greeks was semicircular, while the other was a quadrilateral with an extensive portico. At the front thereof, at a lower level, were the stalls for the horses and chariots. On either end of the hippodromos were posts (Greek termata) around which the chariots turned. This was the most dangerous part of the track and the Greeks put an altar to Taraxippus (disturber of horses) there to show the spot where many chariots were wrecked. Where possible, it was built on the slope of a hill and the ground excavated from one side was transferred to the other to form an embankment thereat.

1880

Hippodroom van Bosvoorde (Boitsfort)

Hippodroom van Groenendaal

Hippodroom van Bredene

Hippodroom van Antwerpen

Hippodrome de Wallonie (Bergen)

De geschiedenis van hippodrooms in België omvat een aantal belangrijke locaties en periodes. De hippodroom van Bosvoorde, geopend in 1880, was een prominente renbaan die tot 1995 in gebruik was. De hippodroom van Groenendaal, aangelegd in opdracht van Koning Leopold II, kende een bloeiperiode voor de Eerste Wereldoorlog, met tot vijftig koersen per jaar. Een ander belangrijk voorbeeld is de hippodroom van Bredene, gebouwd in 1923, maar verwoest tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog.

Hippodroom van Bosvoorde (Boitsfort):
Geopend in 1880, gesloten in 1995. Tegenwoordig is het terrein deels een golfterrein en deels een recreatiedomein genaamd D’horM Park.

Hippodroom van Groenendaal:
Aangelegd in de buurt van Brussel, met een unieke rechte mijl baan. De site is nog steeds herkenbaar, maar de grote betonnen tribune is afgebroken.

Hippodroom van Bredene:
Gebouwd in 1923, verwoest in 1941 door de Duitse bezetter.

Hippodroom van Antwerpen:
Geopend in 1903 op de Leopold de Waelplaats, later gesloten in 1958 en gesloopt in de jaren ’70. Het terrein is herontwikkeld door Vooruitzicht tot een nieuwbouwproject genaamd “Hippodroom”.

Hippodrome de Wallonie (Bergen):
Opgericht in 1999, is een multidisciplinaire locatie voor draf- en galoprennen, jumping en een kenniscentrum voor paarden.

Hippodrooms, afgeleid van het Griekse “hippódromos”, waren oorspronkelijk plaatsen voor paardenrennen en wagenrennen.
In België werden hippodrooms vaak gebouwd in de late 19e en vroege 20e eeuw, met een hoogtepunt in populariteit voor de Eerste Wereldoorlog.

De hippodrooms dienden niet alleen voor sport, maar ook voor sociale evenementen, feesten en amusementsdoeleinden.

Na de Tweede Wereldoorlog namen de populariteit en het gebruik van hippodrooms af, mede door de opkomst van nieuwe vormen van entertainment en media zoals televisie.

Veel hippodroomterreinen zijn herontwikkeld voor andere doeleinden, zoals woningbouw, recreatie of sportfaciliteiten.

In België zijn er nog vijf hippodromen waar drafrennen worden gehouden: de Hippodroom Waregem, de hippodroom van Kuurne, de Jekerhippodroom in Tongeren, de Hippodrome de Wallonie in Ghlin (Mons) en de Wellingtonrenbaan in Oostende.

Laatstgenoemde heropende in het begin van de zomer van 2012 de poorten voor draf- en galoprennen na verbouwingswerken aan de tribune. De Brusselse hippodroom van Sterrebeek ging failliet in 2002 en sloot in 2005 definitief de deuren.

Hippodroom

Groenendaal

The Dead Sea

Salty

Spreepark – Der Freizeitpark der DDR!

Spreepark – Der Freizeitpark der DDR!

Spreepark – Der Freizeitpark der DDR!

Our Squeaking Adventure While Exploring Berlin.

By Alan & Hannes | A Belgian & A Belgian

Our Explore

14.07.2014

As we, Alan & Hannes, were invited to attend and also film the marriage of Alan’s 2nd cousin Nicky and Mateusz who is of Polish descent, we planned our trip by car to Poland through Germany with a couple of stops on the road.

First stop, Hanover, Germany, where we checked out the MVRDV building from Expo 2000, which was, off course, inaccessible due to abandonnement and closure of the site. Read the post here.

Second stop, Berlin, also Germany, we found out about the once famous Spreepark, which closed its doors in 2002 and opened in 1969.

We didn’t regret our secret explore of this exciting theme park!
Read on to find out what we came across.

Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin

Two Sad Faces

Let’s Face History

It must be said that, at the time of the event, we both were 24 years of age and we were kind of stunned by the fact that a place like this was left behind for more than a decade, just because it went bankrupt as less visitors came to the park.

We didn’t understand quite well where all those kids and parents would go to if they like to enjoy a good theme park likes this.

There’s a lot of amazing cool rides in here, yes, they are a bit old and outfashioned. But when refurbished and with a fresh layer of paint, it would be good enough for many kids out there. At least that’s what we think.

Now, 7 years later, we’re writing about this place and to our surprise the government of Berlin has plans to reopen the park step by step.

Our sad faces turned into happy ones after all.

Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin

Finding The Ferris Wheel

It Wasn’t That Hard

All of us know that there is a ferris wheel in every theme park in the world and every explore is about finding that first and explore the remaining later. For us, we were in unknown territories as Germany isn’t our country of birth, so we were very cautious and didn’t want to get noticed. So we stayed out of sight most of the time and we had a great amount of fun too.

We’re always psyched about our urban explorations. This “thing” is so much fun, although actually not very nor always legal to trespass a property that still belongs to an individual or city. There’s always an owner who might have guarded their property, or maybe not, but always be careful when considering intruding such big scale of properties as it isn’t always safe to hang out.

Always go with at least two people, so if one gets into trouble for any reason, then the other one can search for help or try to control the situation himself or herself. Advice for the young people out there who love exploring abandoned stuff. People do die in abandoned buildings because they are not careful enough or explore on their own.

Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin

Its Location

Treptow-Köpenick, Berlin

The Spreepark is located right next to the Spree river, hence the park’s name. Mitte Berlin, or the heart of the city of Berlin, is located just 7 kilometers away, which makes the park easily reachable for those who want to dive into Berlin’s history or enjoy a relaxing walk in the Plänterwald’s park, where the Spreepark is located.

The park has in fact a whole path around it where one can enjoy the view of the Spree river and the old park at the other side of the fence. Hiking, biking or strolling around with the kids is a very nice activity on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Spreepark Google Earth
Spreepark Original Map

The Attractions

1969

The GDR built it’s first and ever only Kulturpark in the GDR in 1969.

With the highest attraction being the Ferris Wheel standing tall at a height of 45 meters. This Wheel still spins and makes creepy noises, check out our video here.

Spreepark Berlin

A New Concept

2018-2026

Concept drawings were created in 2018 with the intention to open the park once again in three main stages.

From 2022, the Eierhäuschen (Egg House) will be open for the public, then, in 2024 the area around the ferris wheel will be accessible, and at last but not least, in 2026 the entire Spreepark will be completed.

All five stages are properly explained on the website of the Spreepark, which you can check out here.

Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin

The Official Website

2021

Check out the Spreepark’s official website here or https://www.spreepark.berlin/en/.

Now you can officially visit the park with prices at € 5 for adults & € 3 for children from 6 to 14 years old.

Get your tickets here.

Spreepark Berlin
Achterbahn „Spreeblitz“ - Rollercoaster Spreepark
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin
Spreepark Berlin

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