KittyDe Efteling in Kaatsheuvel (near Tilburg) is Holland’s largest and most beautiful theme park. Looking to treat yourself and your family to something special? Then spend at least a day in this amusement paradise. Below you will find all the information you need to plan a successful trip to the Efteling Theme Park.
Contents
Efteling Attractions
The large amusement park attracts over 5 million visitors a year and is home to 34 exciting attractions for all ages.
Roller Coasters
Efteling is well-known for its six roller coasters.
The Python is a very popular looping roller coaster that features a double loop and corkscrew, just like a snake. Also in demand is the dragon-themed, double-lane wooden roller coaster called Joris en de Draak. The wooden roller coaster runs flatter and is the best choice for roller coaster newbies.
The newest roller coaster in Efteling, the Baron 1898, really packs a punch! On this ride, you’ll free fall 37.5 meters (123 ft) at 90 km/h (56 mi/h) after countless spins. The Baron is ideal for anyone looking for an extreme adrenaline rush!
Younger visitors can enjoy the Max & Moritz, perfect for children of all ages.
If you don’t dare to step foot in a roller coaster, you will find many other attractions in the theme park. A good alternative is the Halve Maan, a ship that swings like a half moon in a 180° angle from right to left.
Water Attractions
In addition to roller coasters, the Efteling amusement park has numerous activities, including bobsled rides, whitewater rafting, carousels, and ship swings. Particularly popular is the De Vliegende Hollander white-water raft ride, inspired by Captain Willem van der Decken, who once turned his back on Holland and sailed off in search of riches. If you like things a bit quieter, you can take a 20 minute ride on a small boat (gondoletta) across a beautiful lake surrounded by colorful flowers, idyllic cottages and windmills. A perfect end to a day in Efteling.
Fairy Tale Forest
However, Efteling is more than a conventional theme park. The original concept and today’s centerpiece is the spacious fairy tale forest. Currently, 27 fairy tales are featured in the fairy tale forest Sprookjesbos. The haunted castle (Spookslot) and the dreamland (Droomvlucht) are also very popular. Attractions such as Holle Bolle or Fata Morgana will immerse you in the made-up world of stories.
Want to go on a quest? There are 13 talking trash cans modeled after fairy tale characters (Holle Bolle Gijs) spread throughout the park. Can you find them all?
Efteling Museum
Would you like to see treasures of past decades? Then visit the Efteling Museum, where a colorful collection is available for viewing in various exhibitions that have made the park so special since 1952. Park visitors receive free admission to the museum.
Further Attractions
In addition to roller coasters, water attractions, fairy tale forest and museum, there is much more to discover in the park. Small children will enjoy the many playgrounds, the maze (Avonturendoolhof) or a ride on the train, Stoomtrein. If you want to experience Efteling from a different perspective, you can get a beautiful view of the amusement park from the floating temple, Pagoda.
Plan Your Journey
Don’t come unprepared! Below you will find practical information and tips for planning your trip to Efteling.
Admission & Tickets
Efteling tickets are available both in-person and online. To avoid long queues on site, it is best to order your ticket online in advance.
The ticket price depends on the season. An adult day ticket in the high season (July-December) costs € 45.00, in the low season (January-July) € 43.00. Children up to and including 3 years of age are admitted free of charge.
Seniors (60 years and older) and groups (20 persons or more) receive a discount of € 2 off the regular price. Unfortunately, there is no student discount.
Opening Hours
Efteling Theme Park is open every day throughout the year. Opening hours vary depending on the season, but are normally between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in winter and until 10 p.m. in summer.
How to Get There
The amusement park can easily be reached by public transport or car.
Address: Europalaan 1, 5171 KW Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands.
Public Transport
Are you coming from Amsterdam, Utrecht or Nijmegen? Then take the train to Den Bosch (Den Bosch Centraal). From there, bus lines 300, 302 and 800 will take you to Efteling. If you are coming from the west (Rotterdam, The Hague) or the east (Eindhoven, Venlo, Maastricht), take the train to Tilburg (Tilburg Centraal). From there, bus lines 300, 301 and 801 will take you to the Efteling.
The bus stop Efteling Kaatsheuvel is only a few minutes walk from the main entrance.
Car
The most convenient way to get to Efteling is by car. The drive from Amsterdam is about an hour and 15 minutes. Wherever in the Netherlands you’re starting from, head towards Tilburg, the nearest city to Efteling. Once you reach the Tilburg area, the way to Efteling is well signposted.
We recommend that you use Google Maps (or any GPS system) to find your way to Efteling. If you don’t have WiFi while on the road, make sure to download the maps to be accessed offline.
Parking
Parking in Efteling is very easy. There is a spacious parking lot in front of the main entrance. A day pass costs € 12.50. Charging stations are available for electric vehicles (for an extra fee). Please note, you’ll need to bring your own charging cable!
Parking a caravan or camper is also possible in Efteling. However, please note this is only allowed for the duration of your visit – camping is not allowed in the parking lot. If you come by caravan or motorhome, you will find numerous campsites in the surrounding area.
Dogs
Dogs are not allowed in the theme park, but exceptions are made for assistance dogs. If you are looking for a place for your dog to stay during your visit to the park, there are free kennels at the main entrance. However, you are responsible for feeding and exercising your four-legged friend. If your dog is not used to kennels, our personal recommendation is to leave your dog at home if possible.
Accommodations
The third largest amusement park in Europe attracts 5 million domestic and international visitors every year. Thus, there is a wide range of accommodation. In and around the city of Kaatsheuvel (the closest city to the park) you will find numerous vacation apartments, hotels and campsites. We have taken a closer look at the accommodations in Efteling, see our recommendations below.
- Efteling Hotel
- Efteling Loonsche Land Hotel
- Hotel De Kroon
- Guesthouse Hotel Kaatsheuvel-Waalwijk
- Bed & Breakfast De Olm
Our tip: Accommodation near Efteling is in high demand, especially during summer months. To get a better price, you might consider staying a little further away from the theme park. Use the zoom function in the map to find accommodations in the area.
Booking.com
