Where History meets Innovation
Step into the Chocolate Factory, a revitalized 11-story industrial space from the 1970s where history meets innovation. Located in the Netherlands’ agrifood capital, this former animal feed facility has been transformed into an interactive learning and leisure attraction. Visitors are immersed in a multisensory experience where original machinery operates alongside modern audiovisual technology. From crafting chocolate to operating machines, the factory offers a unique blend of education and entertainment. Designed in collaboration with Hugo Vrijdag and Studio Daphne Jansen, Kiss the Frog, Bruns, Ata Tech, and the Chocolate Factory team. NorthernLight contributed to the entrance area, rooftop bar, and the designs for Missions 1 and 2.
Three Interactive Missions
Begin your adventure at the top of the Chocolate Factory with a ride in an industrial elevator, which scales the exterior of the building to a rooftop bar. Here, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of Eindhoven, Den Bosch, and beyond while relaxing and exploring special vertigo exhibits. From the rooftop, a slide transports you to the upper floors of the factory, where you’ll join Luca, the star of the experience, in completing a sprawling, larger-than-life machinery system that spans an impressive 11 stories. As you descend further into the factory, the scenography comes alive with immersive video map projections on the existing machinery. These projections showcase the delicate chocolate production process, while animated giant gearwheels and conveyor belts create a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere. The dramatic industrial architecture, with its theatrical design, adds a sense of adventure and intrigue to the experience.
Throughout the journey, visitors can engage with various interactive installations. In the Operator Room, you take on the role of an operator, working to keep the factory machinery running smoothly. Another highlight is the VR Drone Game, where you race through the factory on custom-designed “drone scooters,” navigating a series of virtual challenges beneath LED-lit ceiling displays. Finally, in the Sort and Learn section, a range of purpose-built, complex machines lets you manage logistics, sort, and even package chocolate, giving you hands-on experience with the chocolate-making process in a fun and educational way.
Where Learning is Sweet
The Chocolate Factory is more than just about chocolate, it’s a place where food technology education comes to life through engaging, hands-on activities. Supported by educators, businesses, and the Dutch government, this attraction inspires visitors to explore innovation, maintenance, and operation in modern food production. Everything revolves around discovery and experience. Visitors are challenged to take control using modern technologies and playful assignments. They have the opportunity to operate machines and observe the entire production process up close, a unique chance to learn about the technological innovations shaping our future in an interactive way. Every visit ends with your custom chocolatechips package—and sweet memory for home.
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