When you think ‘theme park’ you might think long queues and being overwhelmed with all the busyness, but Efteling in the Netherlands is the complete opposite. Think a fairy tale forest crossed with a Center Parcs break and you’ll be much closer.
We’ve discovered over the last couple of years that theme parks in Europe are on a whole different level to what we are used to in the UK. Visiting, or even better staying over, at may of the European parks is like staying at a resort with all the magic of world class rides, fantastic food options and endless things to do for the whole family thrown in. We’re big Disney fans and have lots of tips for visiting Disneyland Paris, and love trying out new family friendly theme parks too.
Efteling is a truly magical destination to take your family and it is easily accessible from the UK by a short flight or the Eurostar. It’s hard to overstate how much we loved it here, we are already desperate to go back!
Here’s everything you need to know about this unique destination.
Efteling Fairy Tale Forest
Efteling is set in the woodland of the southern Netherlands and is a beloved destination for families across Europe. At the heart of the resort is the Fairytale Forest, which is where the park began, where you can immerse yourself in famous fairytales from around the world, watching the come to life before your eyes.
Storytelling is at the heart of Efteling and you feel swept up in tales, old and new, from the moment you arrive.
Efteling World-Class Rides
Dotted around the park are many fantastic rides all based around the theme of fantasy and fairy tales. You can fly up into the sky on the magical spinning Pagoda or visit the Palace of Fantasy and meet the park mascot Pardus.
There’s something for everyone in terms of ride availability. While my older son was enjoying the many huge rollercoasters my toddler and I were drifting around the lake on a boat trip.
So many of the rides were so creative, they left us speechless, and we rarely queued for more than half an hour even though we visited during the summer holidays. And if you are in need of a break then there are shows, like the incredible fountain show on the main lake, and an acrobatic show to check out too.
Efteling Playparks and Beach
Alongside the rides you will also find lots of playparks to enjoy. We particularly loved one of the parks where the climbing structures were over water (shallow of course!). It was a great place to paddle and cool off in the warmer weather.
In the summer months Efteling also hosts the Efteling Beach where you can play in the sand, watch shows and enjoy treats from a range of food and drink stands. This was the perfect place to sit back and relax for a while, and there were even deckchairs for the grown ups!
Efteling Food & Refreshments
Another thing that really makes a visit to Efteling so special is the food. You’ll find everything from traditional Dutch street food and baking to Italian favourites and buffet options.
We loved eating at Polle’s Kitchen, a Dutch pancake restaurant, which is full of magical touches like a huge spinning centrepiece of pancakes and pots and pans that comes to life every few minutes. The children also loved that they could have ‘magic water’ to drink, every time they filled up their glass it magically lit up.
We also loved the Fabula restaurant which features animal animatronics nested amongst huge climbing structures and slides. It’s a kid’s dream!
Eftelling Accommodation
One of the highlights of a visit to Efteling is the amazing on site accommodation. We stayed in one of the lakeside lodges which was amazing value as our theme park tickets were thrown in too. After a long day in the park it was perfect to relax on the terrace, overlooking the lake, with a glass of wine in hand.
We also loved all the special touches that were in the accommodation. Before we arrived we received a personalised video of our lodge being prepared with magic sleep dust and sleeping caps with our names on.
They think about every detail of your experience at Efteling and we were blown away by it. The kids haven’t stopped asking to go back since we visited so we will definitely be back to this magical fairy tale wonderland!
@redkitedays Efteling – Europe’s most magical theme park ever! One of our highlights on our trip to the Netherlands has been to visit the fairytale inspired theme park, Efteling! It’s hard to overstate how much we loved it here, we are already desperate to go back! If you have any questions, then feel free to drop them below Better than Disneyland Paris – what do you think? #efteling #eftelingtiktok #eftelingthemepark #themeparks #fairytaleexperience #betterthandisney #netherlandstiktok #familytravelblogger ♬ original sound – Red Kite Days