Dierenpark Tilburg, Urban zoological garden in Tilburg, Netherlands
Dierenpark Tilburg was a zoo in the Dutch city of Tilburg, with enclosures for bears, tigers, elephants, and flamingos spread across its grounds. Pathways connected the different sections, letting visitors move on foot from one animal area to the next.
The zoo was founded in 1932 as a wedding gift from Johan Burgers, who ran Royal Burgers' Zoo, to his daughter and her husband in Tilburg. It closed in 1973, ending four decades of operation in the city.
For many families in Tilburg, the zoo was the only place where they could see wild animals up close. A whole generation grew up with visits there as a regular part of childhood.
The zoo closed in 1973 and the grounds are no longer open to visitors. Those curious about its past can look into local museums or archives in Tilburg for more information.
Ground squirrels that escaped before the zoo closed in 1973 settled in the surrounding area and their descendants still live there today. They are one of the few traces the park left behind that can still be seen in the landscape.
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