The country opens the world’s largest tropical greenhouse and sparks controversy: “Visitor comfort comes first”

In the city of Brugelette, Belgium, what is now billed as the world’s largest tropical greenhouse has opened its doors. Located within the grounds of Pairi Daiza zoo and botanical garden, ‘Edenya’ promises to transport visitors straight into the heart of the equatorial belt the moment they step inside. The vast four-hectare glass structure shelters more than 200 different species.

“While you explore, a vibrant jungle unfolds, framed by crystal-clear rivers, a golden-sand tropical beach and unforgettable encounters with captivating exotic animals: jaguars, manatees, tapirs, sharks, monkeys and more,” the center explains. The space also features a 17-meter waterfall – about 56 feet – and one of Europe’s largest butterfly sanctuaries.

A project of that scale has inevitably drawn attention, but in Belgium it has also prompted debate. The issue centers on the additional fee required to access Edenya. Beyond purchasing a ticket to Pairi Daiza’s botanical garden, visitors must pay an extra €7 – roughly $8 at current exchange rates – for entry to the greenhouse. That ticket cannot be purchased on its own.

In an email sent by the park’s founder, Eric Domb, he explained the decision to introduce the surcharge. “Edenya is, above all, the first world to which we cannot guarantee access for everyone. For this reason, and this reason alone, we have chosen, for the first time in the history of Pairi Daiza, a different option: for all visitors, access to Edenya is by prior reservation and through a specific fee, applied only when access is confirmed. I did not want a member to pay for something they could not experience.”

The email was soon circulated on social media, where some users voiced their dissatisfaction with the additional charge for that section of the park. “A money-making trap,” wrote one critic. For larger families, paying about $8 per person can be enough to reconsider the visit altogether.

Only those who want to enter pay

Facing the backlash, a park spokesperson sought to clarify the situation. “Many questions, many concerns, sometimes a lot of anger. We owe you objective, complete and transparent explanations,” the statement begins. The spokesperson argued that not charging for the new attraction would have sparked frustration as well. “This is an enclosed space with limited capacity, where visitor comfort and respect for living beings are paramount. We know that on some days demand will exceed the number of available places.”

Two options, the park said, were considered: raising the membership card price for everyone – including those who do not wish to visit Edenya – or keeping the base price unchanged and charging the extra fee only to those who choose to enter. Management opted for the latter. According to the park, it is the fairest way to satisfy the greatest number of visitors while ensuring calm inside the greenhouse.

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