Vicky If you have never made a trip to visit the Efteling theme park in the Netherlands, you need to do it this summer. Efteling is the biggest theme park in the Netherlands and it is also one of the oldest theme parks in the world that is still busy and growing all the time. In the 70 years since it opened, there have been over 100 million visitors through its gates. It has grown so much since it opened its gates in 1952 as a fairytale forest and playground.
Before You Go To Visit Efteling
Online Ticket Sales
Before you go, you need to buy your tickets online. There are a few different ticket options, all depending on when you want to visit. The tickets are Giant tickets, that are valid all through the summer. There are Dragon tickets that are available every day until the end of June. Then there is the cheapest option of the Fairy ticket, valid Monday to Friday until the end of June. You cannot buy tickets at the gate at the moment.
Tickets start at 41 Euros for the Fairy Ticket and go up to 46 Euros for the Giant ticket. If you want to visit Efteling theme park in June, it is open from 10 am – 6 pm during the week. At the weekends it is open until 7 pm. Throughout the summer it is open until 9 pm, but you will need the Giant ticket. Paying an extra 5 Euros for 3 hours longer in the park is such great value.
Where To Find Efteling Theme Park
To visit Efteling, you will need to type this address into your SatNav.
- Efteling,
- Europalaan 1,
- 5171 KW
- Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands
To Visit Efteling by car is about an hour from Rotterdam and Antwerp. It is only 35mins from Eindhoven airport by car too. You can also take public transport to the park. The train runs to Tilburg, where you can get the 301 but to Efteling.
Efteling Theme park is signposted on the way, so if you do not have Satnav, you should be able to follow the signs.
You Can Stay At The Hotel
Like all theme parks, a day is never enough, especially in the high season. So there are hotels for you to extend your visit to Efteling. You can stay at the Efteling Hotel where you get themed fairy tale rooms, as well as rooms that are suited to adults and teens. There is Efteling Village Bosrijk, a ten-minute walk from the park. Where you can stay in a castle. Then there is Efteling Village Loonsche Land, where you can stay in a tree house or sand dunes accommodation.
There are Well Organised Car Parks
The car parking is well organised with the main car park and then overflow car parks. You do need to pay 12.50 Euros a day for parking, but you buy this online before you go or on the day before you leave the park. You need to get your ticket from the entrance.
As you leave the car park it is well organised too, although there were small queues to leave. But you can avoid the queues if you leave before the park closes.
They Have An Efteling Park App
Before you head out to visit Efteling, remember to download the app. It is available on both Android and iPhone. The app will tell you how long you have to wait in a queue for a ride. It also has a map of the park, so you know where you are going. You can actually plan your whole day before you even get there.
On The Day To Visit Efteling
No Need To Bring A Picnic When You Visit Efteling
I think it is a very English thing to take a picnic when you go out for the day. But when you visit Efteling, you do not need to. There are so many places to eat, with different budgets. There are restaurants where you can sit inside and eat a meal, or a huge array of snack bars around the park. The only thing you need to worry about is whether you want to eat on the go or take a break and eat.
The budget prices for food are excellent. In the UK we find that theme parks inflate the prices. But at Efteling, the prices were the same as if you ate somewhere outside the park. It was 7 Euros for the meal in the photo below. And it kept me going until we went home.
Lots Of Greenery Throughout The Park
The park is set on acres of greenery. There are trees and flowers everywhere. You do walk a lot through the park, going from one attraction and rides to another. So it is good to be able to have the greenery as a backdrop. You even have the fairytale forest set in some trees. This is where you will find fairy tales and trolls to feed your child’s imagination.
There are Single Rider Queues
If you are with a group of people who don’t want to go on the bigger rides, you can go on your own. There is usually a single rider queue, which is quicker than the normal queue and you then sit next to someone that you don’t know. This is a great hack for getting on the rides faster. If there is more than one of you and you don’t mind being separated on the ride, you can still go on as a single rider. You just won’t get the same experience as you would do sitting together.
Different Languages Spoken When You Visit Efteling
Each employee has a badge with their name on it. But they also have different flags on their badges too. This is to indicate the different languages that they speak. So there is usually someone around that will speak the same language as you. Especially if you need help. The signposts are mostly written in different languages too, to make it easier for you to find your way around the park. The ride signposts are written in different languages too. As English is spoken worldwide, there are a lot of English signposts.
When Your Day Is Over And It Is Time To Leave
The Water Show
The day is most certainly not over until you have seen the water show at the end of the evening. There are 4 frogs who bring the water to life with the Efteling fairy tales. There are more than 200 fountains and 900 lights that dance to the music from Efteling. It brings you a magical water world for 12 minutes.
If you can stay until the end of the day, then I really recommend this water show.
Getting A Car Park Ticket
You need to get a car parking ticket so that you can leave the car park at the end of your visit. You can buy this online with your park tickets or you can buy it at the park. It is 12.50 Euros for the whole day. If you are staying at the hotel, you will not need one because you will be able to walk to the park.
Get An Anual Pass And Visit Efteling More
If you enjoyed your visit, then get yourself an annual pass. You can then can buy an annual pass at the visitors centre before you leave. It pays for itself within 5 visits. So if you fancy spending a few days there over the summer, you will get your money back in no time.
