Typhoon at Bobbejaanland in Lichtaart, Belgium, holds a special place in coaster history: it was only the second Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter ever built, opening on 10 April 2004 — less than a year after the model’s Danish prototype debuted. Two decades on, its 97-degree first drop is still the steepest coaster drop in Belgium.
With four inversions, a 5 g peak and one of the longest layouts of any early Euro-Fighter at 2,200 feet, Typhoon is also one of the most complete expressions of the genre: a vertical lift, a beyond-vertical dive, and a tangle of loops and heartline rolls stacked over a compact plot.
Key Stats
| Height | 84 ft (25.7 m) |
| Drop angle | 97° (beyond vertical) |
| Speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Length | 2,200 ft (670 m) |
| Inversions | 4 |
| Max g-force | 5 |
| Duration | 1:30 |
| Capacity | 1,400 riders per hour |
| Manufacturer / model | Gerstlauer / Euro-Fighter |
| Opened | 10 April 2004 |
| Park | Bobbejaanland, Lichtaart, Belgium |
Belgium’s Steepest Drop
Typhoon’s signature moment comes right at the start. The car climbs a vertical chain lift to 84 feet, crests, and pitches down a 97-degree drop — three degrees past straight down. No other roller coaster in Belgium drops steeper. It’s a small taste of the arms race chronicled on our list of the steepest roller coaster drops in the world, which Gerstlauer’s Euro-Fighter models helped kick off in the 2000s.
From the drop, Typhoon threads a vertical loop, a double heartline roll and another heartline roll — four inversions in all — while pulling up to 5 g. That force figure puts it in serious company; compare it with the highest g-force roller coasters ever built.
An Early Euro-Fighter That Still Delivers
Gerstlauer’s Euro-Fighter line went on to become one of the most-copied thrill ride concepts of the 21st century, with installations across Europe and North America. Typhoon was the model’s second-ever installation, following Vild-Svinet at Denmark’s BonBon-Land in 2003, and it expanded the concept considerably — taller, with four inversions to the prototype’s one and a 90-second ride time.
Bobbejaanland, founded by Belgian singer and entertainer Bobbejaan Schoepen, has built a reputation for packing serious coaster hardware into a mid-size family park, and Typhoon remains one of its defining silhouettes: the pale-blue tower and knot of inversions are visible from across the park.
Over 3,700 pieces, a real vertical loop and a working chain lift. Display it on a shelf in the coaster room.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
FAQ
How steep is Typhoon at Bobbejaanland?
Typhoon’s first drop is angled at 97 degrees — beyond vertical — making it the steepest roller coaster drop in Belgium.
How fast does Typhoon go?
Typhoon reaches 50 mph (80 km/h) and pulls up to 5 g across its 2,200-foot layout, with four inversions along the way.
When did Typhoon open?
Typhoon opened on 10 April 2004 at Bobbejaanland in Lichtaart, Belgium. It was the second Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter ever built.
Photo: Rémih via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)