Efteling - The place to go to in Holland

Once upon a time....in a teeny tiny country. There was a beautiful dreamworld, you couldn't imagine. Best of all (thank God) the place still exists. The minute you enter the World of Wonders called Efteling, you'll be transported into a perfect world of fairy tales. Everything is worked out in detail with extremely attractive surroundings. You enter the park through the special entrance called "The house of the five senses" which leads you to "the Dwarrelplein" where you spot a huge mysterious oriëntal building (The Fata Morgana - Attraction) The romantic environment you will stroll the next few hours (and perhaps days), is primarily based on the style of Anton Pieck. While walking around the atmospheric music from the bushes makes you feel even more magical. The park is divided into two main areas, "Het Sprookjesbos - The Enchanted Forest" and the attractions. The Efteling today consists of more than just the amusement park. The entire complex also includes the Efteling Hotel, the Golf park, "Torenrijk", "Uitrijk" and "Bosrijk".

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The Park Is Divided Into Four Areas

In the early days the park was divided into the 4 points of a compass. In 2000 when the "Pardoes Promenade" opened, the four areas were renamed into "Marerijk - Mare Empire", "Anderrijk - Other Empire", "Reizenrijk - Travel Empire" and "Ruigrijk - Rough Empire". There are also parts that are outside this Empires, for example "Het centrale gedeelte - The Central Area".

Marerijk

This is the Empire where the Efteling has its roots. The Enchanted Forest is located here. The Mare Empire includes the following attractions; Steam Carroussel, Villa Volta, Droomvlucht, Volk van Laaf and Raveleijn, Diarama, Steam Train. There are some more attractions. There are also lots of locations where you can eat. Check the free map at the bottom of this textblock.

Anderrijk

In this Empire you will find (in my opinion) some of the best attractions of the Efteling. It includes the following; Fata Morgana, Haunted Castle, PandaDream, Piranha, Bob Sleigh. More about some of these attractions a little later on.

Reizenrijk

This is the Area where you will find a total different atmosphere. It's more happy and colourful then the other Empires. It includes; "Carnval Festival", "Vogel Rock - Dark ride", "Monsieur Cannibale", "Pagoda", "Gondoletta" and a "Labyrint".

Ruigrijk

This is the Empire for the thrill seekers amongst us. Here you find a couple of shocking attractions. It includes; "Halve Maen - Big Ship Swing", "Python - rollercoaster", "Joris and the Dragon - ", "The Flying Dutchman - ". You can also play a couple of old Dutch games here and win prizes (this will cost a small amount of money).

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Map of the Efteling: Click here for your FREE map!

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In this given order because of the lines

There are a couple of attractions you really must see when you visit the Efteling. I must warn you, this is my opinion....based on my personal experiences.

When you go to the Efteling it's recommended that you first quickly go to the "Marerijk". Here's where the Dreamflight - Droomvlucht is situated. Because this is one of the busiest attractions, you really want to see, be there as early as you can be. The lines will grow and grow during the day. There's a video below that gives you an impression of Dreamflight.

Next you will go directly to "Villa Volta". That's on your left, when you finished Dreamflight. They let a lot of people in, so your turn will come quick. First you enter a room where "Hugo of the Loonse and Drunen Dunes" will tell you a tale about the "Bokkerijders" - thieves that according to a legend lived a long time ago in the Southern Netherlands and Belgium. Unfortunately the story is in Dutch, but nevertheless is still very amusing. When you enter the main room better take a deep breath. The ride is really mindblowing, left is right, above is under, everything's moving and is out of place.

Then you can go to Raveleijn. Here you can watch live shows of Knights. You can visit for free, but have to get free tickets before you can enter. This attraction will be reniewed by april 2013. ........

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After this you could go for a walk in the Enchanted Park. Here you really must see the Castle of Sleeping Beauty, The Dancing Waterlillies, Cave of Snowwhite, The 7 white goats, Roodkapje, Hansel and Gretel. Well actually everything is nice to watch there. When you first want to go to the different rides, you first do that. You can always visit the Enchanted Park, there are many entrances in the park. So you can come back later.

Then you go to the "Anderrijk" and visit "The Haunted Castle". This is a mansion that can handle a lot of people at the same time. First you have to wait in a hall and then you'll be transported to the main show. Make sure you walk directly to the front row, right after the glass. There you'll have the best view. When the show begins you don't know where to watch. Fantastic music as well. There's a video of the Haunted Castle below.

Next you go to the "Piranha - Wild Water Course". Watch out, because you will get soaking wet. If the weather is not very good, you probably want to save this ride for last. But it's a lot of fun! A few steps away is "The Bob Sleigh Ride". If there's a busy line, you may first want to go to the "Fata Morgana". The Bob Sleigh is nice, but it's a very short ride.

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The Fata Morgana is a magnificant sighting as well from the outside as from the inside. Inside you will get on a cute boat while floating gently an Oriëntal World. So nice, I don't have a lot of words for this attraction. There's a video below of "The Fata Morgana" you see for yourself. The music during the ride will add a finishing Oriëntal touch.

You can now choose to either go to the "happy area" of the park or go immediately to the fast rides.

Go to the "Reizenrijk- Travel Empire" if you want to visit some happy rides. As well there's a ride called VogelRock - Dark ride that's short, but fun. The lines on this ride are usually very short. In this area you will also find Carnaval Festival that should be a lot of fun, if you see it for the first time. You'll be seated in a little open bowl that rides you along funny looking bright coloured dolls. Watch the music, it will continue to play in your head, over and over again.....You can find "Monsieur Cannibale" just across the VogelRock. It looks a lot like a ride on a funfair.

To finish your "Must see attractions" you can now go to "Ruigrijk - Rough Empire". Here you will find "Joris and the Dragon", "Python" and "Halve Maen - Ship Swing".

If you manage to see all these sightings, you can now walk freely througout the park. Maybe you will sit back and relax in the Gondolettas. A quiet boat ride of nearly half an hour. Or you want to overlook the complete park in The Pagode.

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1. Fata Morgana - Oriëntal Boat Ride

2. Villa Volta - Mad House

3. Spookslot - Haunted Castle

4. Droomvlucht - Dreamflight

5. Piranha - Wild Water Course

6. Halve Maen - Ship Swing

7. Dansende Waterlelies - Dancing Waterlillies

8. Joris en de Draak - Joris and the Dragon

9. Python - Rollercoaster

10. Bobslee - Bobsleigh

The Birth of a Fairytale

Since 19th of May 1935 there was kind of a sportspark in this area. The park also had a playground and a small horeca. Later on (1950) the former mayor of Loon op Zand founded "Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling".

The purpose of this foundation was the development of recreation and the promotion of tourism. In a period of two years 10 fairytales were realised. Among them are the Sleeping Beauty Castle, Long Neck, Cave of Snow White and Frau Holle. In 1956 the Efteling opened the Steam Carousel, this was situated outside the Enchanted Forest. In 1959 the famous "Holle Bolle Gijs" was introduced. A talking garbage can saying "Papier hier/Papers here", 12 pieces of them in total.

In 1965 The Indian Water Lilies tale was realised in the Enchanted Forest. This was written by the Queen of Belgium, Fabiola (apparently she's always been good doing her paperwork ;)) This is many childrens favourite sighting of the Forest (including mine long, long time ago). 1966 They build the Water Organ and in 1969 The Steam Train . There are a couple of stations in the park. In 1971 Diorama opened.

1978 The year they build the Haunted Mansion. In 1983 The Piranha was made.

Then in 1990 The People of Laaf came to live in the Efteling. In 1993 Dreamflight opened its doors and ever since it's been very popular. 1996 was the year that Villa Volta was created. A cursed Madhouse that shakes you up, down, right, left and all possible ways you can think of. In the many years they build a number of attractions like the Fata Morgana, Swiss Bob, Joris and the Dragon, Raveleijn and many many more.

Do you want to discover the best attractions of the Efteling? You really should scroll down and read on...

A Snowy White Winter Wonderland

Since a couple of years you can also visit the Efteling during the winter. You will notice the Efteling is totally different from the "normal" edition. The Atmospere is very, very nice. The Efteling is transformed into a fairytale world of twinkling lights. The paths will also be lighted by bonfires.

There are many special winter attractions to experience. Like cross country skiing, skating on a giant ice course, gliding down a real snow slide or sleigh ride. You can also have a typical Dutch treat called "Broodje Unox" kinda like a hotdog but with a bigger and different sausage.

Most of the regular attractions will be opened. Joris and the Dragon, Python, Halve Maen, The Bobsleigh are opened if the weather is not too bad. The Mysterious Ship 'The Flying Dutchman and the Piranha are closed during Winter Efteling.

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Expand Your Stay

When you visit the Efteling you might not be able to see it all. Or maybe you just want to see it again.

Then you can stay the night in the Efteling Hotel. You will be treated as a real prince or princess. When you stay here the entrance to the park is included. The price for a comfort room for 2 adults and 2 children (breakfast and entrance included) is about 350-400 euros. That's just for one night and one day.

You can also book at "Bosrijk". Then you will stay in a park in a nice appartment near the Efteling. You will pay a little more (480 euros), but you have acces to the park for 4 days and will stay there 3 nights!

Photo Credit: Efteling.com