An interview of Propertynews.pl with Wouter Dekkers
“In a market that’s becoming more mature, like Poland, the parks that succeed will be the ones that understand this: relaxation isn’t about escaping everyday life, it’s about enhancing it. At the end of the day, the most valuable asset in our industry is emotion and shared moments” - says Wouter Dekkers, CEO Momentum Leisure.
1. What stage are the construction works currently at, and which elements of the park are already the most advanced?
The project in Gliwice is really starting to take shape now. Just 3 months ago, it was essentially an empty construction site, but today you can already see the outlines of what will soon become a major entertainment destination.
A lot of the essential groundwork has already been completed. The underground infrastructure and service areas are in place, and we’re now seeing the first structural elements rising across the site. These early stages are important because they define how guests will eventually move through both the indoor and outdoor parts of the park. The biggest visual change right now is the main hall, which will be the heart of the complex. The prefabricated reinforced concrete structure is now being installed, and for the first time you can really feel the scale of the building when you’re standing on site.
2. What attractions will set the park apart from other entertainment venues in Poland and Europe?
One of the things that will really set this park apart is the scale and the mix of attractions we’re introducing. For example, we’ll have two roller coasters from leading German manufacturers, Zierer and Gerstlauer, which are both very well known in the industry. One of them will run partly outdoors, which is actually a first for our parks in Poland and will add a completely different dynamic to the experience.
Another important difference is the way guests will enter the park. Unlike previous Majaland parks, which are typically accessed through indoor areas, this one will have a traditional outdoor entrance. That changes the whole arrival experience and gives us much more flexibility in how the park is designed and expanded in the future. This new concept aimed for families with children between 3 to 12 years old and with an evolving offering to our guests in the other parks requires a new name in the near future. It is a carefully measured next step, reflecting the changing demographics in Poland.
It’s also a very special project for us because this will be the first Momentum Leisure park that has been developed entirely in-house. From the initial concept to the design and planning, our own team has been deeply involved at every stage. That gives the park a very distinctive character and allows us to fully translate our vision into the final guest experience.
Visit the Gliwice project page for the latest construction updates
3. Can you reveal what thematic concepts or solutions will be used to create unique experiences for visitors?
In a market that’s becoming more mature, like Poland, the parks that succeed will be the ones that understand this: relaxation isn’t about escaping everyday life, it’s about enhancing it. At the end of the day, the most valuable currency in our industry is emotion and shared moments.
What we can already say is that this will be a completely new concept for us. Our previous projects in Poland, Majaland Kownaty, Majaland Warsaw and Majaland Gdańsk, follow a well-known format. In Gliwice, however, we are taking a different approach and introducing an entirely new concept, which will also come with a new brand. We’re planning to reveal that brand in the second quarter of 2026.
The thematic world of the park will be built around internationally recognised characters from Nickelodeon, including SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as the beloved The Smurfs. The creative concept is being developed together with the Leisure Expert Group in Amsterdam, which has extensive international experience in designing themed attractions.
4. What is the schedule for the upcoming works, and is the planned opening date realistic?
So far, construction has been progressing according to plan, even though the winter conditions were quite challenging. Because of that, we remain confident about the schedule and about opening the park as planned in July 2027.
Over the next quarter, our main focus will be on completing the structural phase of the building. That means finishing the main structure and installing the façade and the roof so that the building can be fully enclosed. Once that stage is done, we’ll be able to move ahead with the interior works. At the same time, a lot is happening behind the scenes. We’re currently finalising the detailed designs for all the themed zones across the park, everything from the attractions themselves and the technical installations to the food and beverage areas and the landscaped green spaces. With each passing week, more elements of the concept are moving from the design stage to actual implementation on site.
Themepark Gliwice - March 2026
5. What economic and social benefits will this investment bring to the local community, for example, in terms of new jobs or infrastructure development?
From the very beginning, we wanted this project to have a strong local impact. The construction works are being carried out by CFE Polska, and what’s important is that CFE is working exclusively with local contractors on site. At the moment, network, installation and structural works are all progressing, so there are already many local companies involved in the project.
The investment itself is worth more than 50 million EUR and construction will last around 18 months in total, which means jobs are being created already at this stage. Once the park opens, we expect it to employ around 200 people in a wide range of roles - from management and technical specialists to operations staff and customer service teams. And not to forget a wide range of local suppliers.
We’re very proud that the project will contribute not only to the entertainment offer of Gliwice but also to the local economy. We’ve seen this effect very clearly with our other parks in Poland, Majaland Warsaw, Majaland Gdańsk and Majaland Kownaty, which have become important regional employers. We expect the same kind of positive impact here in Gliwice as well.
6. Are there any plans for further expansion of the park after it opens, and if so, what directions of development are being considered?
At the moment our main focus is, of course, delivering the park and preparing for its opening, but we always design our projects with the future in mind. That means creating space and flexibility for potential expansion once the park is up and running and we see how visitors respond to the different attractions and zones.
With the new park in Gliwice, we’re also continuing our long-term strategy for Poland. The location is particularly interesting because it opens up strong cross-border potential with neighbouring markets such as Germany and Czechia. Altogether, this region represents a market of more than 40 million residents.
7. Do you already have plans to create another amusement park?
We’re always looking ahead. Our financial stability allows us to keep expanding our portfolio and thinking about the next destinations.
Poland remains a very important market for us, but our ambitions go beyond that. We’ve already taken a significant step into a new market by acquiring land 20 minutes from Bucharest, which marks the beginning of our expansion into Romania. It’s a very attractive region for family entertainment, and together with neighbouring countries it represents a potential market of around 55 million people.
So while our immediate focus is on delivering the projects currently underway, including the new park in Gliwice, we are definitely continuing to explore opportunities for future parks as part of our long-term growth strategy.
