Get to know: Efteling

Get to know

EFTELING

SYMBOLICA

What’s it all about?

This Dutch theme park is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022, making it four years older than Disneyland. It’s impossible not to compare it the mouse’s house, but Efteling is unique. Combining charming fairy tales with thrilling rides, this distinctly European park will surprise and entertain all ages. Themed family fun The majority of the rides and attractions in Efteling are very family-friendly and can be enjoyed by young kids. Although, like Disneyland, the park is something of an institution so you’ll see adult couples enjoying nostalgic days out too. Classic dark rides include Fata Morgana, a boat ride through a sinister Sultan’s palace, and Droomvlucht, a chairlift through an enchanting flowery world of fairies, elves and trolls. The star attraction is the magic-themed Symbolica, located in the park’s fairy tale castle and featuring Efteling’s official mascot Pardoes the jester. There’s also plenty of playgrounds and longer rides, like the steam train or the gondolas. Amsterdam Efteling

BARON 1898 Thrills & spillls Efteling isn’t out to attract adrenaline addicts, but it does offer some thrills. The most extreme ride is Baron 1898, a rollercoaster themed around the story of an evil mine owner with a 40-metre free fall drop at a speed of 55mph. There’s also a water rollercoaster themed around the story of ghost pirate ship The Flying Dutchman.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

a tr ip to the Netherland s Book

Welcome to the weird & wonderful Efteling...

THE BIN PEOPLE Slightly grotesque but hilariously entertaining, the Gijs family of talking rubbish bins call out ‘paper hier’ as you pass by and make satisfied gobbling noises when you stuff some rubbish in their mouthes.

LAAFLAND Catch the snail monorail around the people of the Laaf’s village. Animatronic scenes show these odd, jolly little people living their lives and feeding their babies wine...

FLYING POOP The Brothers Grimm tale, The Table, the Ass and the Stick stars a donkey that poops gold and for €1 you can make it happen (watch out, it flies!)

Stay for story time

The Efteling Hotel, a slightly dated looking floating castle, is nicely decorated inside, with spacious rooms and suites – some themed. There’s also Loonsche Land, a village of cosy grass-roof wood cabins set amongst trees and sand dunes, plus a hotel. The Bosrijk village has self-catering houses (some with saunas) for groups of up to 24 people and is set around a lake.

MASCOTS PARDOES & PARDIJN

The fairy tale forest

Originally 10 tableaus depicting famous fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty, Efteling’s original attraction has mushroomed into 30 storybook scenes tucked amongst 15 acres of woodland. As you wander winding paths you’ll stumble upon familiar settings, like the candy-studded cottage in Hansel and Gretel, all complete with life-size figures laid out in detailed, partly animatronic scenes. You’ll find some less familiar tales too, like The Six Servants, featuring a long-necked man who is a beloved park mascot.

The commentary is in Dutch, but there’s always a book where you can read an abridged version of the story in English. Plus, hearing a tree talk in a language you don’t understand somehow makes it more magical! The slow-moving tableaus are oldfashioned but it just adds to the charm. What’s also notable is how unsanitized the stories are. Tales like The Little Match Girl have no happy ending added for the kids but are sensitively done.

All around the park you can meet and chat to ‘real’ fairy tale characters like Little Red Riding Hood

Food, glorious food

There are kiosks offering takeaway items like hotdogs, ice cream and coffee, along with self-service cafes, fast food joints and themed a la carte restaurants. Polles Keuken is a cosy pancake house set in a fantasy royal kitchen where pots and ladles whirl around you and a ‘magic’ tap turns kids’ water into sparkling colours. Efteling’s dining is better value than most parks, there are lots of healthy options and alcohol is served on-site.

THE PIRANA RIVER RAPIDS

POLLES KEUKEN

CAN WE GIVE YOU A T IP ?

Charitable Travel’s new Travel Insider Podcasts (TIPs) will take your ears on a 30-minute holiday and let you in on some of travel’s best-kept secrets…

Hosted by the Editor of Charitable Traveller Magazine, Laura Gelder, each episode aims to get under the skin of a holiday destination as Laura chats to two people in the know. The guests will share their insider knowledge, from personal recommendations on where to dine or dance the night away, to exclusive tip-offs about the best beaches or sunset spots.

To the Med

In our first episode we journey to the sundrenched Mediterranean islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. Laura talks to the Malta-born but UK-based Louise Zammit from the Malta Tourism Authority and Clive Cortis, a Maltese tourist guide who has 17 years’ experience in guiding international visitors around his home and sharing his vast knowledge of its history and culture.

On this podcast you will discover which diverse cultures have influenced Malta’s mouth-watering cuisine, what happens at a Maltese village feast and which historic attraction on Gozo is older than Stonehenge, plus much more.

Next departure Keep an eye out for our next TIPs episode which will whisk you away to the bright lights of Atlantic City and reveal some of its more surprising attractions, from a giant elephant to an impressive selection of vineyards and wineries.

Listen, follow and subscribe - wherever you get your podcasts