De Efteling (theme park)

Before getting on to the dry part, de Efteling is just cool. It doesn’t need a more poetic description than that. As an outsider, it was a unique look into a Dutch family experience that, despite some signs in English, is very much for the locals.

It started as a sports park in the 1930’s, initially being comprised of soccer fields, with a playground being added shortly after. The fairy-tale forest, which still exists today in an expanded form, opened in 1952, but the first roller coaster didn’t arrive until 1981. A more detailed history can be found on their website for anyone who wants more than the bullet points.

The current park contains a quirky mix of thrill rides, immersive fantasy-world attractions, and some rides that bridge the gap. The latter might be compared to “It’s a Small World” at Disneyland, which certainly isn’t about exhilarating g-forces. There are also two main shows, with the first featuring heroic knights defending the village of Raveleijn, and the latter being a combination of lights, music, water, and even a bit of fire. While walking between all of these attractions, guest may run into one of the many costumed characters wandering the park. Most lack the name recognition of Mickey and Minnie, but they’re a fun addition in line with the fairy-tale theme.

Speaking of name recognition, not every story is so recognizable for Americans as Snow White or Pinocchio. Longneck, from the Grimm tale “The Six Servants,” was completely unknown before learning about this place. Fortunately, their website offers heavily abridged descriptions of each fairytale depicted in the park. Links to specific stories can be found attached to several of the photos below.

Fata Morgana – Visitors land in de Bazaar (gift shop) after a ride through a far-east kingdom

Piraña – a rapids ride through the Incan empire

Baron 1898 – the tower in the background is the main feature of this drop coaster that sends riders into a subterranean mineshaft filled with mist

Not trying the donut turned ice cream sandwich is a major regret

Diorama – a miniature world complete with a model train and simulated storms over some of the darker sections

Holle Bolle Gijs comes from a mythical family with bottomless stomachs and a taste for paper. The characters encourage visitors to discard their paper waste in the characters’ mouths throughout the park.

WARNING: The cries for “Papier hier!” (Paper here!) are obnoxious.

One of their hot plates of stewed meat, steamed vegetables, and the inescapable fries. If memory serves, it was just over $10 despite being in a theme park.

Raveleijn

Raveleijn is the title of one of the park’s headliner shows as well as the name of the mythical city where it takes place. Stuntmen dangle from their horses in daring displays of their abilities as they prepare to fight off Count Olaf and his five-headed dragon. Spoiler: the good guys win.

2-on-1 combat

Each of the five riders is given a mystical power. In this scene, one of them uses the wind to send an opponent flying backward.

One rider has domain over fire, and another over water, both of which are somehow working against the dragon here.

The character on the right is called the Fairytale Collector (Sprookjessprokkelaar).

What’s fascinating is that this is a person in a suit, not an animatronic prop. #halloweenGoals

These mushrooms along the path are equipped with speakers to play classic tunes.

Geppetto’s Workshop

The Red Shoes

Hansel & Gretel – the witch peaks through the door periodically

“Donkey, lift your tail!” – maybe this tale is the reason for that statue in Diekirch

“Gold” coins actually fly out of the donkey’s back side.

A brief show depicting a conversation between the evil queen and her mirror plays in the room a few times per hour.

It wouldn’t be much of a fairytale tree if it didn’t tell fairy tales.

The Gardener and the Fakir

De Vliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman)

This ride is one of the most popular in the park, but it was still under an hour wait. The next few shots were taken while waiting in line, including one of the richly decorated interior. There’s a little bit of water, but no one really gets soaked. It’s more about the overall experience.

Food windows – just tap your card and take your snack

As an introduction to the attraction Villa Volta, which is described as a “mad house,” this old man tells a story about being cursed for pillaging an Abbey.

After the story, guests sit down in the cursed villa for an unsettling ride.

The illusion of the ride is incredibly effective. Those with motion sickness and/or vertigo are advised to skip this one, even on video.

Aquanura (Water Show)

This nightly show serves as the grand finale for guests, virtually all of whom seemed to gather along the large pool near the exit. The three videos below cover around 2/3 of the 12-minute production, and though the original intent was to share whichever was best, they’re all spectacular, and they’re all getting shared.

The finale includes the song “Brabant,” starting just before the minute mark. It’s somewhat of a musical love-letter from the singer, Guus Meeuwis, to his home province of North Brabant, which also happens to be where de Efteling is located. If you listen closely, you can hear the local audience singing in chorus. Their joy was infectious!