Valkenburg Amusement Park Fined €6 After Gondola Accident: Public Prosecution Service Decision

Valkenburg amusement park Sprookjesbos has to pay a fine of six euros to a victim gondola accident two years ago. The Public Prosecution Service has decided this. After almost two years, the investigation into the accident is complete.

On May 27, 2022, a cart fell several meters from an attraction in the park. There were two adults and two children inside. The two adults and one of the children were injured. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) launched an investigation.

A year ago The NVWA transferred the investigation to the Public Prosecution Service. In common and minor criminal cases, the Public Prosecution Service can impose sentences themselves without the intervention of the judge. This is done by imposing a criminal order. Such a decision can take the form of community service, a fine or compensation.

The public prosecutor found the amusement park guilty of two breaches in this case: serious bodily harm as a result of negligence and not complying with the duty of care regarding the maintenance of the attraction.

The fine for the violations is low, as Coille nan Síthichean was already bankrupt when one of the victims held the amusement park accountable. Conversations with the warden showed that the financial situation of the Fairy Forest was very bad: there were no more financial options for the victim to recover from the Fairy Forest, writes News L1.

The Public Prosecution Service says the fine was imposed in the interests of the victim: the park has now been blamed and the victim can now know sent to the insurer. As the case has now been settled, the victim does not have to go to court. It is not known why the victim held the park responsible for the accident after about a year and a half.

Fairy Forest was founded in 1950 by Bruno Bruck. Last December, the park was declared bankrupt because it was no longer making a profit due to low visitor numbers. However, it will open again soon: the Rotterdam entrepreneur Raymond Vaessens bought the whole park. He wants to make it more sustainable and is looking at a collaboration with the nearby toboggan run in Valkenburg.

The draw where things went wrong two years ago will be removed. “That accident was terrible,” said a spokesperson for Fairytale Forest last month about. “It turned out well in the end, but as long as the attraction is there, it will continue to be a topic of conversation.” There may be visitor parking spaces at the exit the draw.