Burgers’ Zoo Awarded with Two Michelin Stars

(eap) The Royal Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem, the Netherlands, was recently awarded with two Michelin Stars, making it the only zoo in the Netherlands to have received such a rating to date, according to the zoo. Besides Michelin stars for extraordinary gastronomy quality, stars are also awarded for high-quality tourist attractions, as in the case of Burgers’ Zoo. The assessment is based on nine predetermined criteria (first impression, reputation, activities, intrinsic value, labels and certifications to preserve the attraction, beauty / balance / grandeur, charm and warmth, quality of public reception, and quality of the visit). A maximum of three stars are awarded per tourist attraction. The Royal zoo, which has been family-owned since it was founded in 1913, has been awarded two stars by the Michelin Guide.

Burgers’ Zoo’s main goals are nature conservation, education, research, recreation and leisure. To make the zoo even more attractive and interactive for young visitors, the new event “Fantastische Fabelwezens” can be experienced from tomorrow. An audio tour has been developed in collaboration with the well-known children’s book author Paul van Loon, in which “Viktor Werewolf” meets various mythical creatures in an adventure. Until 9 March 2025, visitors to the zoo can meet Loch Ness, Minotaur, Phoenix, Pegasus and Yeti, for example. Guests can scan a QR code at each mythical creature to experience the story in sections as an audio tour.

Awards such as the Michelin Stars or special events can contribute to the positive perception of zoos, which need to stand out in an increasingly competitive leisure landscape. Find out more about marketing strategies of European zoos in our next EAP issue no. 6/2024, which will be published in early November. ■