Zuidyard · WHEN IT RAINS

RAINY DAY WITH KIDS IN ROTTERDAM

When it rains in Rotterdam, you and your kids can stay mostly dry at Zuidyard on the Maashaven: the large sandpit and the roller rink at Spelen bij Beelen are covered, Gigi’s Klim World is an indoor climbing park from 130 cm, Noah’s Ark is visited inside the ship and the Beelen Eye has enclosed cabins.

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Not everything suits every age, and on a rainy day you would rather know that before you reach the entrance. So below you will find, for each part of the site, what is indoors or covered, followed by what suits the youngest, children under 130 cm and bigger children.

Covered · ages 0–12

Spelen bij Beelen: covered sand and roller skating

Spelen bij Beelen is a play park for children aged 0 to 12. A lot of it is outdoors, but the large sandpit and the roller rink are covered. There, children can dig, build and roller-skate in the dry, even when it rains.

Frenky World, a new indoor play world above the large sandpit where children can climb, scramble and explore, is expected to open in mid-October 2026. A ticket for Spelen bij Beelen costs €10 per person, babies up to 1 go free and there are no time slots. Check spelenbijbeelen.nl before you leave to see which activities are open.

Indoor play at Spelen bij Beelen →

Children racing in pedal cars at Spelen bij Beelen

Indoor · from 130 cm

Gigi’s Klim World: climbing indoors

Gigi’s Klim World is fully indoors, so the weather makes no difference here. Children and parents climb walls, nets and obstacles and choose for themselves how high and how challenging they go. You do not need to be an experienced climber: you get instructions and climb in your own time slot.

Climbing is from 130 cm. A ticket costs €25 per person and also includes entry to Spelen bij Beelen. Gigi’s is open on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 13:00 to 17:00 and on Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00; you choose your time slot online in advance.

More about Gigi’s Klim World →

A father puts a climbing harness on his daughter at Gigi’s Klim World

Indoors · whole family

Noah’s Ark: four decks indoors

You visit Noah’s Ark inside the ship: a 70-metre wooden ark with four decks of experiences around the story of Noah and the animals. Children set off with a treasure hunt and an information folder, and there is a lot to touch and try. The Ark is suitable for the whole family; allow about an hour and a half.

A ticket costs €2 per person and afterwards also works as a €2 voucher at PIER40, opposite the Ark. Please bear in mind that the Ark is not wheelchair accessible.

More about Noah’s Ark →

Enclosed cabins · all ages

Beelen Eye: the view from an enclosed cabin

The Beelen Eye’s cabins are enclosed, so you sit inside while you look out over the city and the harbour 57 metres above the river Maas. Children of all ages can ride with a parent or carer. A ticket costs €10 per person.

In strong wind or other bad weather the wheel may close temporarily for safety. Whether the Beelen Eye is open is shown in the notice at the top of beeleneye.nl; take a look before you set off.

More about the Beelen Eye →

The Beelen Eye Ferris wheel at Zuidyard against a blue sky

Food & drink indoors

Warm up in between at PIER40

In between, you can warm up indoors at PIER40, Zuidyard’s restaurant by the water, with coffee, lunch or dinner. PIER40 is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 and Sunday from 13:00, until 20:00. Bringing your own food and drink is not allowed at the attractions, except for medical reasons or specific needs; you can buy something on site at Spelen bij Beelen and PIER40.

More about PIER40 →

By age and height

What suits your child?

Which activity suits your child depends on age and sometimes on height. This is what you can do with kids at Zuidyard when it rains.

The youngest
Spelen bij Beelen welcomes children from age 0, and babies up to 1 go free. When it rains you play in the covered sandpit. The Beelen Eye and Noah’s Ark are suitable for all ages and the whole family; in the wheel, children ride with a parent.
Children under 130 cm
Climbing at Gigi’s Klim World starts at 130 cm. For smaller children, the dry options are the covered sandpit and roller rink at Spelen bij Beelen, Noah’s Ark with its treasure hunt, and the Beelen Eye. Frenky World, the indoor play world above the sandpit, is expected to join them in mid-October 2026.
Children from 130 cm
From 130 cm you can climb indoors at Gigi’s Klim World in your own time slot, then go on to Spelen bij Beelen with the same ticket. Add Noah’s Ark or a ride in the Beelen Eye and you have a whole day that stays mostly dry.
Big and small children together
Bringing both bigger and smaller children? The Gigi’s Klim World ticket also includes Spelen bij Beelen, so the climbers can carry on playing with the little ones afterwards. For children under 130 cm you buy a Spelen bij Beelen ticket.

Before you leave, check which activities are open and look at the weather notice for the Beelen Eye. Opening hours and tickets for each attraction are on Plan your visit.

Zuidyard · WHEN IT RAINS

Good to know

Covered: The large sandpit and the roller rink at Spelen bij Beelen (ages 0 to 12)
Indoors: Gigi’s Klim World (from 130 cm), Noah’s Ark (four decks) and PIER40
Enclosed cabins: Beelen Eye; may close in strong wind or other bad weather
Coming soon: Frenky World, indoor play world above the sandpit: expected mid-October 2026
Spelen bij Beelen: €10; Per person, babies up to 1 free, no time slots
Gigi’s Klim World: €25; Per person, including Spelen bij Beelen; from 130 cm, with time slots
Beelen Eye · Noah’s Ark: €10 · €2; Per person; both suitable for all ages
Accessibility: Noah’s Ark is not wheelchair accessible; Gigi’s Klim World is not accessible for people with disabilities

Zuidyard

Frequently asked questions

Zuidyard with kids on a rainy day: the key questions and answers.

What can you do with kids in Rotterdam when it rains?

At Zuidyard on the Maashaven, the large sandpit and the roller rink at Spelen bij Beelen are covered (ages 0 to 12, €10), Gigi’s Klim World is an indoor climbing park from 130 cm (€25, including Spelen bij Beelen), Noah’s Ark is visited inside the ship (€2) and the Beelen Eye has enclosed cabins (€10). Frenky World, an indoor play world above the sandpit, is expected to open in mid-October 2026.

Is Spelen bij Beelen covered?

Partly. The large sandpit and the roller rink are covered, so you stay dry there when it rains. Other parts, such as the outdoor playground, are outside.

When does Frenky World open?

Frenky World, the new indoor play world above the sandpit at Spelen bij Beelen, is expected to open in mid-October 2026. Children can climb, scramble and explore there.

My child is under 130 cm. What can we do indoors?

Climbing at Gigi’s Klim World starts at 130 cm. When it rains, smaller children can play in the covered sandpit and on the covered roller rink at Spelen bij Beelen, go on the treasure hunt in Noah’s Ark or ride the Beelen Eye with a parent.

Does the Beelen Eye open in bad weather?

The Beelen Eye’s cabins are enclosed. In strong wind or other bad weather the wheel may close temporarily, though. The current status is in the notice at the top of beeleneye.nl.

Is everything indoors wheelchair accessible?

Not everything. Spelen bij Beelen and the rest of the site are easy to visit by wheelchair, and the Beelen Eye is accessible for people with disabilities. Noah’s Ark is not wheelchair accessible at the moment and Gigi’s Klim World is not accessible for people with disabilities.

RAINY DAY WITH KIDS IN ROTTERDAM

Spelen bij Beelen: covered sand and roller skating

Gigi’s Klim World: climbing indoors

Noah’s Ark: four decks indoors

Beelen Eye: the view from an enclosed cabin

Warm up in between at PIER40

What suits your child?

The youngest

Children under 130 cm

Children from 130 cm

Big and small children together

Good to know

More ideas for your day at Zuidyard.

Frequently asked questions

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