Earth, Wind, Fire and Water are the themes of Merlin Entertainment’s new Earth Explorer centres, the first of which will open in Ostend, Belgium, early next year.

Aimed primarily at families with children aged 12 and under, Earth Explorer is an interactive attraction looking at how the planet was created. Visitors are encouraged to undertake their own ‘hands on’ discoveries of tornadoes and volcanic eruptions as well as experiencing a theme-park style ride on a "non-stop journey through the centre of the earth and back again".

The attraction has been developed as an E9m partnership between Merlin, the Belgian government and Dirk Frimont, the first Belgian astronaut.

Merlin Entertainment’s chief executive, Nick Varney, said: "Selling science is notoriously difficult. This is where Merlin’s established experience ofsuccessfully mixing fun and education within a profitable attraction makes Earth Explorer such a natural fit for our brand portfolio. This is therecipe which has proven such a winner for the Dungeons and Sea Life Centres."

Merlin says a second centre is planned with five more to open by the end of the decade – at least one of which will be in the UK.