At the point where the borders of The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet, lies the Drielandenpunt (Three-Country Point). Here, people have been gathering for years. Not only does this place boast the highest point of The Netherlands and a beautiful nature reserve; it also has an intricate labyrinth to get lost in. Over the coming years, Jora Vision and the labyrinth’s proprietor will upgrade this to the Mystery Maze Experience. A major milestone of this overhaul took place this spring, when the iconic Amikejo Turo tower opened.
The Drielandenpunt is one of the most popular tri-border points in the world. Next to being an endless source of dad-jokes referring to going on holiday in three different countries, the fact that you can touch down in three countries within seconds is already an attraction in itself. The maze, playgrounds and an atmospheric tavern greatly add to the fun.
All is run by the same proprietor, Geert Driessen. “Worldwide there are 173 places where three countries meet. But, not long ago, there was a fourth country that used to join the others, making it the only four-country-point in the world”, says Geert. “Our visitors want to have an adventure, but also learn something new. We were looking for a partner to add the stories of Moresnet (the fourth country) to our maze in an exciting way. So, we naturally got in touch with Jora Vision”.
Stories for experts
Jora Vision is well known for big projects, such as dark rides and theme parks. However, since creating the Quake experience, they have proved themselves adapt at creating compelling destinations and tourist experiences, too. Combine this with their storytelling expertise, and they are a perfect partner for a project like this. Especially since the stories of the fourth country of Moresnet are nothing but compelling.
The tales from Moresnet seem plucked from the best adventure novels: secret smuggling rings, rich zinc deposits, a tax haven with gambling hotspot, and to top it off a new language for the world. All these tales will be added to the experience in the coming years. Visitors will soon be able to navigate the maze, each turn offering a new insight into the area's rich past and offering interactive games to engage with the stories.
Towering above history
The final goal of the maze? To find its the elusive centre. Right in this midpoint, the new iconic tower stands. This literal high point in the adventure recently opened as a first step in the transformation of the labyrinth. Based on the head office of the zinc mine company that played a major role in the fourth country, Jora Vision created a unique building. It rewards explorers with a stunning view over the surrounding area. Or lets them guide lost friends to the centre by shouting out directions from the top floor.
Where the top floor gives an overview of the area now, the room on the ground floor allows you to look back in history. With an intricate model of the area and projection mapping, the story of the fourth country is told. Smartly programmed effects give the feeling you are in the middle of the Napoleonic wars or a secret gambling den. All accompanied by narration in four languages, to get the history across to anyone.
Jora Vision was helped by projection expert Mr. Beam to create the mapped video. Bucko Arends, Creative Producer, says "In a project like this, where the content truly shines on location, it's always challenging to convey our vision to the client early on. With the help of Jora Vision this was a breeze. We are proud of the small historically accurate details and have enjoyed working on the spectacular effects that leap off the table. As soon as you enter the room, you're grabbed by the collar and won't be let go until you've seen all the videos.”
More stories coming
“We are really proud to have hit this milestone together with the Drielandenpunt”, says Simon Tiemersma, Design Director at Jora Vision. “It is nothing short but exciting to work where nature, history and experience intersect as they do here. We already look forward to the next phases of the project”.
The artwork that Jora Vision released of the upcoming activities shows how the country Moresnet can come to life in the maze. Until they are built in 2025, there is more than enough to explore. With your own passport for Moresnet in hand, you are challenged to find the centre of the maze and encounter multiple trials along the trail.
Amikejo Turo
The tower is dubbed ‘Amikejo Turo’, meaning ‘The friendly tower’ in the would-be language of Moresnet: Esperanto. Despite its friendliness, finding it might not be as easy as you think. If you check out the reviews of the place, it shows that most find it harder than expected. But the reward is worth it: a stunning view on Moresnet that can only be found here.