Today, we visited the dinosaur exhibition at the Belval Shopping Center in Esch-sur-Alzette as a family. Offered for free during the Easter holidays (from April 5 to 19, 2025), the concept sounded promising: life-sized dinosaurs placed throughout the shopping arcade, sure to captivate young children… at least in theory.
But once there, the reality was quite different. The dinosaurs were indeed scattered throughout the walkways, but the whole setup sorely lacked animation, interaction, or even atmosphere. There was no staff supervision or activities on the day of our visit (which was expected outside of Wednesdays or Saturdays), but even as a purely visual exhibit, it felt very limited.
We went with our 4-year-old son, hoping to spark his curiosity. Unfortunately, he was quickly disappointed. There was very little to see, no mascots or workshops, and the visit was over in just a few minutes. Even a little ice cream to lift his spirits couldn’t bring a smile back to his face.
It’s clear that this exhibition was intended as a nice initiative, but in practice, it feels more like a strategy to draw families into the center’s shops. This isn’t a outing to plan specifically for the exhibit. However, if you’re already at Belval for shopping or a movie, it might be worth a quick look.
But don’t make the trip just for the expo—you might, like us, leave feeling a bit frustrated despite it being free. A good intention, poorly executed.
Address:
Belval Plaza Shopping Center
7 & 14 Avenue du Rock’n’Roll
4361 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Dates:
Until April 19, 2025
Admission:
Free entry
Schedule:
Activities (workshops/mascot) only on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons
