Visit to Efteling Theme Park

Train at Efteling

Sprookjes Boom - The Speaking Tree

Efteling: Entrance

One of our fun-filled outings as a family with young kids has been to Efteling Theme Park, in the Netherlands.  Efteling is one of the oldest theme parks in the world (it is said that the Disney parks have been inspired by Efteling). It is a fantasy-based theme park and all rides, attractions are based on popular fairy tales, folklores, myths and legends. As you enter the parking lot the building with its pointed cones beckons you with promises and treats galore. Once you get inside, both children and adults are transported to a totally charming land of fairy tale characters and interesting rides.

The park is based over an area of 160 acres and spread over a natural forest area with pine trees and many ponds and gardens which have been all used scenically to create an old world charm making it very different from a modern theme-park. What I also want to say is there is a fair bit of walking to do. One can take prams for little ones or can even rent some quaint push-cars for the older ones. You can also take a steam train from a quaint station which takes you around the park and it's attractions.

Efteling started in 1952 as a theme-park for children and then kept adding incrementally to become a park targeted at both adults and children. The entire park can be divided into 4 realms broadly speaking - Fairy, Travel, Rough and Other realm (names make more sense in Dutch, but presenting the English translations here) - based on the type of attractions. You can get all the necessary information here and here. It is not restricted to a theme park only.

If you go with young ones, you are most likely to do the Fairy Realm in detail, which is what we did in the half day we had there.  Wander into the Fairy tale forest and encounter fairy-tale characters - Rapunzel lowering her hair, the dancing red shoes, the houses of Rumpelstiltskin, Snow-white and the seven dwarfs, The Frog King, Sleeping Beauty, Long-Neck, etc.  Most of these are houses which show the characters with all the props and the attention to detail is really commendable.  The most compelling of the lot was the Fairy Tale Tree (Sprookjes Boom).The tree tells all those gathered around it fairy-tales and you can almost believe it's true as you see it moving it's jaws. There are also these waste-paper bins of a boy's face called Holle Bolle Gijs, based on the story of a very hungry boy, who keeps saying  paper here,  paper here, saying don't litter.

Holle Bolle Gijs

Diorma

A must-see is Efteling museum which tells us about the history of the Park, about it's designer Anton Pieck, plans etc, pity most of it is in Dutch only, very little English translation. My personal favorite was the Diorama - a 3-D miniature model of railways, houses, lives of the fairy-tale people. Also loved the Dream-flight (the Droomvlucht), a ride which transports you in a fairy-tale world of elves and dwarfs. Another must is Villa Volta - a haunted house where you experience bizarre things.

Ravelijn is an animation show, based on a fantasy book for young children. There is a Steam Carousel which is popular too. Everything here has an air of enchantment, magic to it and first-time visitors succumb to the charm.  There are also souvenier shops where you can pick up something to remember your visit - I picked up the Speaking Tree:). A train picks you up from a quaint station and is a great option to go all around the park, enjoying the sights and pleasures.


I would say is that it's impossible to do the entire park in 1 day, or half a day. There is an option to stay in the park in a hotel or outside in other hotels in Kaastheuvel,which give you an option of starting early and exploring more. There are many options for food- also for vegetarians. All  facilities like rest-rooms, first-aid are well spread out and there is always an employee in the vicinity. We even came to know that the Park is open the night of the 31st  December with great fireworks display. If you are ever in The Netherlands or Belgium, do plan to visit this park.

First posted here at Indian Moms Connect.
Image sources: Google Images