We are lucky to have plenty of theme parks on our doorstep - whether we’re looking for thrill-seeking fun, or something that will deliver a magical experience to young ones.
But there is another park that is only an hour’s flight away from Manchester that is doing something truly special. It is already proving to be a big crowd-pleaser for young families wanting to jump into the world of fairy tales and roller-coaster enthusiasts looking for an adrenaline-packed trip.
Efteling, which is located just an hour away from Amsterdam in the Netherlands town of Kaatsheuvel, is vast in both scope and in detail. Spanning around 72 hectares, it is twice as large as the original Disneyland park and tickets start from just €38 each.
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Within the theme park there’s family-friendly rides and attractions, including indoor dark ride Symbolica which takes you on a whittling royal visit featuring magic and dance, and the enchanting Droomvlucht world of fairies and elves. There’s also big-hitting coasters, like Python and Joris en de Draak (‘Joris and the Dragon’), for those wanting to scream at the top of their lungs.
Situated within a natural park, many of Efteling’s rides are hidden within ready for you to discover for yourself - with the rising Pagode, offering unrivalled panoramic views of the park, being the only ride you could see emerging from within the vast forests of the landscape.
Visiting the park for the first time towards the end of October, I was initially impressed by how much there was to see and do - and how it was able to vary based on what experience you wanted to take from your trip. I was left speechless by the vast lakes and the sheer level of detail taken on the theming and design of each of the park’s spaces.
Eager to shake off the rollercoaster cobwebs, one of the first rides I went straight on was Baron 1898 - basically their version of Alton Tower's Oblivion but with a 37.5m free fall that reaches speeds of 90 km an hour. I ended up going on it each day during my three-day visit. Themed around a spooky mine shaft, the design is super effective and is something that I will later come to realise is quintessential Efteling.
At Efteling, there are no fast passes available to buy but during my visit, there really was no need to have bought one anyway as queues very rarely stemmed past a 30 minute wait and most had just 10 or 15 minutes. There is also a single rider queue for a lot of the rides, meaning you can shorten the wait even quicker if you want to venture on alone.
Other crowd-pleasers included the wooden coaster Joris en de Draak (‘Joris and the Dragon’), speedy steel coaster Python, indoor mythological coaster Vogel Rok (Basically ‘bird rok') and the family-friendly (but still quite fast) dual-coaster Max & Moritz. Besides Baron, my personal favourite was the water coaster De Vliegende Hollander (‘The Flying Dutchman’), which is just brilliantly designed as both a holding area and a ride. It’s eerie, full of surprises and just an overall incredible experience that you need to have.
As part of my trip, I was able to be one of the first people to experience Efteling’s newest and hyped haunted attraction Danse Macabre. Having opened on Halloween itself, the ride features you sitting in sinister choir stalls that come to life and feel like they are literally dancing to a spectacle of music - but, of course, there’s some sinister goings on happening.
Located within a new Abbey Square and creepy area called the Huyverwoud, Danse Macabre forms part of a whopping €35 million investment by Efteling and is a world’s first in terms of some of the elements used on the ride. You literally cannot go on anything like it anywhere else.
“It is a unique ride,” head designer Jeroen Verheij told me as the ride geared up for its official opening. “This ride system has not existed until now. It’s actually an experience you can never really have anywhere else.”
Consisting of a large 18-metre diameter turntable topped by six smaller ones, riders sit in choir stalls that rise, tilt and fail - spinning like a coin. Koen Sanders, director of product, market and image at Efteling, added: “It’s something really special. Danse Macabre has a sort of scariness but in an Efteling way that means it is still fun for families.
“With the ride, we wanted to try to give people a real feeling that they were dancing along to the music. We are very proud of what we have achieved.”
Having to walk through a haunted graveyard first before reaching the inside of the glorious ride building, which also features a number of elements from the original and beloved Spookslot ride which it has replaced, Danse Macabre is truly breathtaking - it’s wondrous and fully immersive. And it’s the only ride I have ever been on where people actually applauded at the end. Make of that what you will.
Whilst in the Huyverwoud, you should also treat yourself to some spider candyfloss and a ‘secret recipe’ flavour popcorn that I tried and failed to decipher (All I am allowed to say is that it's savoury). There’s also plenty of amazing merchandise featuring a black cat who is sure to soon become a very popular element of the ride.
If spooky church goings-on aren’t your thing, that’s more than okay. One of the most special parts of the park isn’t a ride at all, but something I cannot undersell as a recommendation. The Fairytale Forest, which forms part of Efteling’s origins, is a walkthrough area full of renditions of fairy tales and folklore you know and love (like Rapunzel, and Hansel and Gretel) and ones you might not have even heard of (for example, I was oblivious to Mother Holle and The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats).
You can easily get lost in the area because it’s so vast and beautifully laid out, but it’s a really lovely stroll through nostalgia and magic - especially if you need a bit of respite and to unwind between the thrilling rides. As a 35-year-old, I was surprised how much it captured my attention so I am sure it will be an even more special experience for young ones.
Throughout the park, there are a number of restaurants, food stalls and shops to feed your appetite - featuring everything from stroopwafels, pancakes, currywurst, and even Turkish pizzas. The Polles Keuken pancake house, serving up both sweet and savoury options, features a moving kitchen that will entertain guests, whilst Fabula features a twist on Indian and African dishes. My favourite, however, was the Kashba featuring a Middle Eastern market-esque layout where you can help yourself to salads, grilled meats and pastas.
During my visit, I stayed at the Efteling Hotel - which is located no more than five minutes away and has its own separate entrance to the park. Overnight stays onsite include unlimited access to the park (with 30 mins early entry in the morning) and free entry for children up to three-years-old.
Each of the hotels’ rooms (starting from €365) are themed around different aspects of the park, with some taking inspiration from rides, the circus, and even Coca-Cola. My room had a magical fairytale element to it, with hidden mice (not real, thankfully) and red shoes to be discovered, as well as a board game that families could enjoy before bed time.
I also experienced the live show Caro, which has tickets available separately to park admission (€12.50 each if staying onsite). It’s an acrobatic extravaganza featuring music, jaw-dropping stunts and performances, as well as a hefty dose of quirks that you will come to expect from Efteling. Taking place in the evenings, I would fully recommend going - it will leave you in awe.
As far as my first visit to Efteling goes, it really did exceed my expectations. It’s not too far away to travel to, there is genuinely a lot to see and do, and you can tell why it is such a beloved place. Not only is it steeped in history, but the park will fully immerse you in wonder and bedazzlement.
You can tell how much the team behind Efteling care about it, and the excitement and joyous faces on visitors throughout my time there were testament in itself that it’s something truly special. And the fact that it’s not as expensive, or as busy, as its counterparts means it’s a hidden gem for families.
Travel factfile
Adam was a guest at the Efteling Hotel where rooms start from €365. You can get to Efteling by flying via Manchester Airport into Amsterdam via Schiphol Airport and taking a train to 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) or Tilburg, and then a bus to the park.
You can also fly into Eindhoven Airport and get a bus to Efteling. Alternatively, it is also a five-hour drive from London via the Eurotunnel.
Tickets for Efteling, from €38, can be bought here.
