Efteling

Efteling is the biggest amusement park in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the world. It is a magical place where both adults and kids can have fun!

Here’s all you need to know with practical details to plan your visit and where to stay near Efteling – or stay in the Efteling hotel!

In a Nutshell

Important
- Book tickets here (you can only buy tickets online, no tickets are sold at the entrance)
- Download the Efteling app here (you’ll see waiting times in real time)

Best of Efteling accommodation
- Best Luxury Hotel: Efteling Hotel here is a mere 5-minute walk from Efteling through a special entry.
- Best Midrange Hotel: Holiday Village Efteling Loonsche Land Hotel is 15 minutes stroll from Efteling and offers cottages under the treetops and on sand dunes.
- Best Budget Hotel: Holiday Village Efteling Bosrijk is perfect for larger groups, this location offers holiday homes, family rooms, and group accommodation. It’s a 10-minute walk to Efteling.

Best hotels near Efteling
- Hotel De Kroon is a modern and kid-friendly, this hotel also offers bunk beds for kids, Efteling tickets as part of the package deal, and free parking.
- GuestHouse Hotel Kaatsheuvel-Waalwijk boasts modern rooms complete with bunk beds, a playground for kids, and even Efteling tickets as part of the package deal. Plus, parking is free.

Video

Here’s a (very) short video just to get an idea of what it’s like!

Are you looking for more family fun times and travel inspiration?

Tips for Visiting Efteling with Kids

World Wild Schooling - https://worldwildschooling.com Efteling | How to Visit | Where to Stay - https://worldwildschooling.com/efteling — © Georgia Konidari / World Wild Schooling

When planning your visit to Efteling with kids, there are several key tips to keep in mind to ensure a fantastic experience.

Book tickets here in advance – you cannot buy tickets at the entrance, only online.
Download the Efteling app, so that you know real-time how much waiting time there is for each ride – it helps with spending less time queuing!
If you are a frequent visitor or plan to visit more than once in a year, consider investing in an annual pass. This provides unlimited access and can be cost-effective in the long run.
Parking is available at a fee. Purchasing your parking ticket online beforehand can save time and avoid queues at the park.

How to Avoid the Crowds at Efteling

Try to plan your trip on a weekday and outside of holiday seasons, as the park can become quite crowded during peak times.
Try to go as early as possible! The later the more crowded it gets.

Is Efteling Suitable for Little Kids?

Yes! Efteling has so many areas that are designed specifically for little ones. Our daughter was a toddler one of the first times we went to Efteling and she also enjoyed it.

The most popular attractions can have a waiting time of around an hour, but you won’t be doing these with little kids anyway.

The attractions that are mainly for younger kids don’t have such a long waiting time – and you can always download the app to see in real time how much time you’d need to wait.

Can You See Everything in One Day?

It is possible to see everything in a day, but it might feel quite rushed. It’s best to stay somewhere for the night and enjoy the park for two days.

Remember that it’s nearly impossible to see everything in a single day, given the park’s size and variety of attractions. So, prioritize based on your preferences.

These are just a few tips to help you make the most out of your Efteling adventure!

Efteling for Wheelchair Users

Efteling is also committed to providing a welcoming experience for wheelchair users. Many attractions are accessible, and wheelchairs can be borrowed from the park.

There’s even an option to rent a mobility scooter, making the park more accessible for all. Additionally, a special ticket discount is available for those with disabilities.

See more details here.

Are Dogs Allowed in Efteling?

Pets are not allowed in the park.

Efteling History

Efteling | How to Visit | Where to Stay — © Georgia Konidari / World Wild Schooling

Efteling opened in 1952 making it one of the oldest theme parks in the world. There are plenty of new attractions, but the overall theme is quite dark and nostalgic. The park owes this atmosphere to Anton Pieck, who designed the original illustrations for the Fairytale Forest.

Rides

There are several rides for young kids as well as for adults. There are also dark rides (indoor rides), which can be quite useful if the weather is not cooperating

A few of the rides for younger kids include carousels, a monorail, a pagode with panoramic view, an indoor steam carousel, a steam train, a speelbos (play forest), the Raveleijn show, Halve Maen the swinging ship (this is much more scary than what it looks like!)

The House of the Five Senses

The House of the Five Senses is the main entrance of Efteling. It is the largest reed roof in the world!

Carousels

Monorail

This was one of our most favorite rides overall.

Pagode with panoramic view

And this is the view from the top

Indoor steam carousel

Steam train

Play forest Nest

Raveleijn, park show

Halve Maen, the swinging ship

Darkride Fata Morgana by night

Some rides have more pronounced the dark ambiance of the park, like Fata Morgana, Dream Flight, Symbolica, Villa Volta

Dream Flight

Dream flight is another dark ride

Symbolica

Symbolica, a dark ride

Villa Volta

Villa Volta, the first modern Madhouse in the world

Rides for Older Kids and Adults

There are also rides for adults only, like Python, the Flying Dutchman, Vogel Rok

Python

Python, double loop rollercoaster

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Flying Dutchman

The Flying Dutchman, a water rollercoaster

Vogel Rok

Vogel Rok is another dark ride, an indoor rollercoaster

Playgrounds for Little Kids

There is also a playground for little ones. Although the playground is beautiful, don’t waste too much time there, as Efteling is huge and there are tons of things to see!

Efteling Nostalgic Pieces

There are several nostalgic pieces around the park, like Hollow Bulging Gijs, a paper gobbler designed by Anton Pieck

Also this charming music player

Efteling App

The Efteling app is an interactive map where you can check out live the waiting time for each attraction. You can download the Efteling app here (both Android and iOS). It is a valuable resource, providing real-time information and aiding you in maximizing your visit.

Efteling Map

You can see the map of Efteling here and you can use the interactive map here.

Efteling Restaurants

There are many restaurants and canteens around the park, mostly reasonably priced. Restaurants also follow the magical theme of the park, eg one of them is a cave!

You can reserve one of the main restaurants of Efteling in advance here.

If you are looking for something special, book this restaurant that gives you also access to a 3-hour show.

There are also several other options to grab something quick to eat. You are also allowed to take picnic with you, but you cannot eat it at the restaurants.

We really enjoyed the restaurant with the outdoor play area!

Even souvenir shops have a certain ambiance in Efteling

Efteling also offers two hotels and two holiday villages, where you can stay for the night. Entrance for two days is also included in the price.

Efteling Tickets

You can find prices and book your tickets on the official website here. You can only book tickets online – it is not possible to buy tickets at the entrance.

Practical stuff

Try to avoid the weekend and holidays, as it can get crowded
You cannot see everything in one day, so choose wisely!
Use the Efteling app as well to make the most of it
There are also annual passes
Parking is paid (buy online parking ticket to avoid queues)
For wheelchair users some of the attractions are accessible. Check out the overview linked here. You can also borrow a wheelchair or rent a mobility scooter. There is a ticket discount as well.
Dogs are not allowed to enter the park.

Address

About 1.5 hour drive from Schuman, Brussels (or about 3 hours by public transport). Efteling is also about 1 hour drive from Amsterdam (or 1 hour 45 minutes by public transport)

Efteling
Europalaan 1, 5171 KW Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands

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Efteling is the biggest amusement park in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the world. Here are practical details to plan your visit.