Sophie Meiden – First Encounter with the Netherlands in 2008 My introduction to the Netherlands was destined. I came to Amsterdam for just a few days, but this country with its cozy canals, bicycle paths, and amazing balance between tradition and progress captivated me so much that I realized – this is where I belong. For over 15 years, I have been living in the Netherlands, helping travelers discover the real country. I constantly explore small towns and authentic places that rarely appear in standard travel guides. The Netherlands is much more than tulips and windmills. It's a country with multiple layers and contrasts that often remain unseen by tourists. The Dutch are known for their straightforwardness, but they are also incredibly hospitable. Those who truly seek to understand the local culture gain ten times more experiences from their journey. I gladly share my knowledge with everyone who wants to see the real Netherlands – a country I've learned to understand and love with all my heart. Over the years, I have developed hundreds of routes, conducted tours, written travel guides, and I consult local tourism organizations.
Efteling, Netherlands
In the heart of green forests, Efteling – Europe’s most magical theme park – rises, a place where every tree tells a story and every path leads to a new adventure. Founded in 1952 with the simple Fairy Tale Forest, this park has become one of the most popular and visited theme parks in the world. Not trying to imitate the Dutch Disneyland, Efteling creates its own unique experience, with deep roots in European culture and fairy tales passed down from generation to generation.
How to Get to the Kingdom of Magic
If you’re coming by car, parking costs €15 per day, and booking a spot in advance on the official website is recommended. Close parking spots are taken quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. Public transportation is also an option. Travel to Amsterdam, then take the train to Den Bosch station, and continue by bus directly to the park. The total travel time is about two and a half hours, but the experience begins on the train as you admire the beautiful Dutch landscape.
The park is located at: Europalaan 1, Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands, about 10 kilometers north of Tilburg in southern Netherlands.
The park is open year-round, with opening hours varying by season and day of the week. Generally, the park opens at 10:00 AM and closes between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM (sometimes until 10:00 PM in summer). Opening hours for upcoming months have not yet been published on the official website. Golden tip: Download the official app before arrival – it will save you time and help you plan your day intelligently.
Click here to learn more about creating a personal itineraryThe Philosophy Behind Efteling’s Magic
What makes Efteling so special is its unique approach to designing experiences. Instead of focusing only on adrenaline, the park emphasizes atmosphere and storytelling, designing its attractions in the style of Dutch artist Anton Pieck, who creates a visual world of nostalgia and dreams.
One of the exciting things about the park is that they’ve maintained strict ecological limits. Despite the park being enormous, only 10% of the area is used for attractions, and the remaining 90% remains completely natural forest. The park even signed special agreements to protect water birds on islands within the lakes. The result is a park that feels like an enchanted forest, not like a concrete city.
Core Attractions – The Big Roller Coasters
The Roller Coaster Family
Baron 1898 is undoubtedly the star attraction of the park in terms of extreme experiences. This is a B&M dive coaster that takes you deep into a haunted mine. What’s special here isn’t just the 37-meter vertical drop, but the story and atmosphere built before you board the ride. The loading station is designed like a real mine, and the music and visual effects create a feeling of real tension.
Python is the first roller coaster built in the park, and it’s still one of the best. Two vertical loops and a corkscrew twist, but what’s special is that the track was completely replaced in 2018. The old Vekoma track became completely smooth, without the company’s famous roughness.
Joris en de Draak (Joris and the Dragon) is a wooden dual-track roller coaster that provides a fun competitive experience. Two separate tracks compete against each other, and the best parts are at the front or back of the train – they have a higher height restriction, and for good reason.
Encounter with the Ghost Ship
The Flying Dutchman (Vliegende Hollander) is an interesting combination of water ride and roller coaster. The experience begins with a completely themed queue designed as a pirate town, continues with a dark section that feels like stormy sea sailing, and ends with an enjoyable roller coaster section. One of the best examples of how to tell a story through an attraction.
Click here to create a personal itinerary for NetherlandsThe World of Dark Rides – World-Class Excellence
The Most Precious Gem – Symbolica
Symbolica is considered one of the best dark rides in the world. This is a trackless ride that takes you on a tour of a mysterious castle with Pardoes, the park’s mascot. There are three different routes – Music, Treasures, and Heroes – and each offers a different experience in the second half of the ride.
The most impressive thing here is the level of detail. The room with the giant whale in the glass, the sick observatory, and the magnificent party at the end – each room is a work of art in itself. Wait times can reach up to 30 minutes, but there’s a single rider line that significantly shortens this.
Droomvlucht (Dream Flight) takes you on a flight over fantastic landscapes with suspended vehicles. The music here is simply amazing, and the set pieces transition from green forests to outer space and back. The most exciting point is the fast spiral dive near the end.
Fata Morgana is an Arabian-style boat ride that resembles a combination of Pirates of the Caribbean and Aladdin. The ride is long and full of impressive details, with an original soundtrack that stays etched in memory.
Fairy Tale Forest – The Beating Heart of the Park
This is where it all began in 1952, and it’s still one of the most magical parts. The Fairy Tale Forest (Sprookjesbos) is essentially a long walking route through classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale scenes. Each station tells a different story – Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, the Frog Prince, and more.
The cheeky donkey that spits out coins (when you put in a coin, it lifts its tail and “spits” it out) has become a famous symbol of the park. The talking tree is an impressive animatronic attraction, and the Long Neck is one of Efteling’s visual icons.
The path here is quiet and peaceful, far from the hustle and bustle of the big attractions. This is the perfect place to take a break, enjoy the atmosphere, and understand why this park is so special. Hidden speakers in small mushrooms play gentle background music, and these small details create the magic.
Since 2015, our website has specialized in individual planning of unique routes, taking into account personal preferences and desires. Each of you will receive a unique PDF file from us, which contains everything you need: travel routes, car rentals, hotels, the best tourist attractions, attractions for kids and everything you need for a perfect vacation. During the trip, we are available for you by phone via WhatsApp. Our personal service provides information from A to Z, taking into account many small details that can become a decisive factor on the way from a wasted trip to an unforgettable vacation. Our service will make your trip comfortable, save a lot of time on planning and preparation, and most importantly – will allow you to become freer and fully enjoy the pleasure of the trip.
Preserving Tradition with Advanced Technology
Danse Macabre, which opened recently, is a new generation attraction that showcases the park’s future. This is a replacement for the old ghost attraction (Spook Slot), with advanced technologies and a level of detail that raises the bar to new heights. The attraction offers virtual queue through the app, which shortens wait times.
The New Fairy Tale: Recently, the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” was added to the Fairy Tale Forest, adding another experience to this magical place.
Villa Volta remains one of the best madhouses in the world. Two pre-shows set up the story, then the main room simply bombards you with an amazing sensory experience. The soundtrack here is a masterpiece, and the world-flipping effect is more convincing than any other madhouse.
Experiences Beyond Attractions
Raveleijn is a spectacular knights show featuring horses, stunts, and fire effects, providing an unforgettable medieval theater experience. The show lasts about 15 minutes and is performed several times a day, so it’s worth arriving early to get a good seat.
Aquanura is an Arabian water show that takes place in the park’s central lake, featuring musical fountains in the style of Bellagio Las Vegas, with lights and music from all the main attractions. The show usually takes place half an hour before the park closes, so it’s worth planning your day to catch it.
How Much Does It Cost and How to Save Money
Park admission costs between €38 and €53 for adults, depending on the season and arrival date. Children up to age 3 enter free with ID presentation. Children from age 4 pay the same price as adults. The best way to save money is to purchase tickets in advance on the official website, where you can find significant discounts.
Professional tip: Purchasing a “birthday” ticket provides a 25% discount on up to six tickets for the birth month and the first 15 days after. You must register for the official newsletter and present ID at entry to receive the discount. This can bring the price down to about €31.5 per ticket!
Click here to create a personal itinerary for NetherlandsWhere to Stay
The park offers three official accommodation sites with significant advantages:
- Efteling Grand Hotel – A luxury hotel that opened recently, offering a premium experience at the park entrance.
- Efteling Wonder Hotel – Offers an amazing themed experience with included breakfast and early park entry half an hour before opening. Prices are high, but the experience is worth it for families who want to feel inside a fairy tale.
- Bosrijk – Offers family cabins in the heart of the forest, a 10-minute walk from the park. The path leads through a charming forest trail with separate park entry at 9:00 AM, half an hour before opening to the general public.
- Loonsche Land – Offers more modern villas, also with all the benefits of on-site accommodation.
How to Navigate the Park
The park is huge – more than 72 km² – and you’ll typically walk 20,000-25,000 steps in a typical day. Comfortable shoes are mandatory, not a recommendation. The official app is a vital survival tool, showing real-time wait times, interactive map, restaurant table booking options, and even virtual queue for Danse Macabre. Download it in advance and familiarize yourself with it before arrival.
The golden tip for route planning: Start on the right side of the park (the area with the big attractions) in the early morning hours when queues are short, and gradually progress toward the Fairy Tale Forest and less extreme attractions in the afternoon.
Food and Prices
Food prices are at typical theme park level – between €7 and €15 per meal. The quality is higher than average for theme parks. The most popular place is the Pancake Restaurant, where you can book a table in advance through the app.
Interesting detail: The Italian restaurant also allows advance reservations, and there’s a wide variety of food options throughout the park – bakeries, fish and chips, Asian food, and famous Dutch bratwurst.
Click here to learn more about creating a personal itineraryWho This Park Suits (And Who It Doesn’t)
Efteling is a park particularly suited to families, with the best age range being 4 to 12. However, adults also enjoy the park’s atmosphere and amazing attractions, including many dark rides. The park is very accessible for wheelchairs and has something for everyone.
Where the Park Is Less Suitable
If you’re looking for the most extreme roller coasters in the world, nearby parks Toverland or Walibi Holland will provide more adrenaline. Efteling focuses on atmosphere, stories, and sophisticated experiences, not crazy speeds.
Limitation worth knowing about: Many attractions are operated in Dutch, and although many areas have English translations, sometimes you feel outside the original target audience.
The Most Important Things to Know
The best time to visit is two full days, or one day if you focus on the main attractions and skip exploring the Fairy Tale Forest and hidden corners. The quietest days are Monday-Wednesday outside school holidays in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Mid-week in May, June, and August is perfect – wonderful weather and relatively few crowds.
Bring a rain jacket for Piraña – the attraction that sends you white-water rafting will soak you to the bone. The attraction is fun, but the result is guaranteed.
Digipass for photos from all attractions is an excellent investment if you love souvenir photos. All photos appear in the app, and the price is reasonable for what you get.
Efteling isn’t just another theme park. It’s a place that resonates with why we fell in love with stories, with the importance of imagination, and with the magic of diving into a world of fantasy. After a full day here, you’ll leave tired in body but energized in spirit. You’ll find yourself dreaming about the music from Symbolica, remembering with a smile the donkey from the Fairy Tale Forest, and planning your next visit.
This is Efteling’s secret – it makes you feel good during the visit, and it also leaves a mark on you. Very few places in the world manage to do this.
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