Day Trip from Amsterdam to Efteling Theme Park

The Efteling is the largest theme park in the Netherlands. Its fairy-tale atmosphere and the many exciting and sometimes blood-curdling attractions make it the perfect destination for a day out, not only for children but also for adults. The Efteling has 32 attractions, including 5 roller coasters, 2 water attractions and 4 so-called dark rides.

Efteling Theme Park

The Efteling is in the village of Kaatsheuvel 110 km south of Amsterdam. It takes 1h 45min by car and almost 2 hours by public transport which involves a train and a bus journey.

The Efteling is very popular that’s why it is essential to buy your tickets online to avoid the waiting queue.

The Efteling is very popular that’s why it is essential to buy your tickets online to avoid the waiting queue.

If you want to enjoy a hassle-free trip, buy a daytrip to the Efteling which includes transfer from Amsterdam by coach and entrance to the theme park.

Five Popular Attraction in the Efteling

1. Fairytale Forest
When the Efteling opened its doors in 1952, the only attraction was the Fairytale Forest based on fairy tales of the brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and Perrault. In the early 1950s, Anton Pieck (1895-1987), Dutch painter and graphic artist, was asked to design a fairytale park with a playground. Little Red Riding Hood, the Dancing Shoes, the Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, Frau Holle (MotherHulda), you will meet them all in the fairytale forest.

From 1978 on other attractions opened of which the first was The Haunted Castle followed by the roller coaster The Python, which is still very popular.

2. Halve Maen (Half Moon)
One of the oldest attractions is the swinging ship the Halve Maen of the Dutch East India Company, a replica of the famous VOC ship that sailed around the world.I t is a giant swing that gives you a feeling of weightlessness when it swings up to a 90° angle.

3. Symbolica
Symbolica is a dark ride that takes you to an enchanted castle full of beautiful rooms, secret passageways, fairies, butterflies, a large whale, a royal party and much more.

4. The Hidden City of Fata Morgana
This dark boat trip takes you to the classic Far East. While the sultan surrounds himself with diamonds and other treasures, you will notice the inequality between the rich and the poor. First, you will pass filthy cellars full of rats and criminals, then you will enter the part of rich people where a giant guards the sultan’s valuable possessions: gemstones, jewelry and gold coins.

5. Roller Coasters
The Efteling theme park has six roller coasters for bloodcurdling rides.

*. The Python has a double loop and corkscrew and is a classic roller coaster.

*. The Flying Dutchman is a water roller coaster with a good mix of classic dark ride and the adrenaline of a water roller coaster.
The attraction is based on the ship ‘The Flying Dutchman’ of Captain Willem Van Der Decken, who set sail despite the harsh weather in the hope of finding money and wealth. His greed was so strong that he ordered his crew to sail even on Easter Sunday. As a punishment, the ship fell into the power of the devil and had to sail forever on the seas while the dead crew did their work in silence.

*. The Baron 1898 is a diving roller coaster that takes you down a 40-metre deep mine shaft in 130 seconds at a speed of 90 km/h. The journey starts with two pre-shows in which you will get to know the history of the mine. Once on board, you slowly climb up to the top and then take a spectacular dive.

*. George and the Dragon, a wooden racing roller coaster with two tracks and a speed of 70 km/h. Defeat the dragon that is causing chaos in the kingdom. All warriors are asked to choose one of the tracks and use water or fire to track down the beast. Those who succeed are richly rewarded.

*. Max and Moritz is fun for young and old. It is a double roller coaster full of stunts. Escape from the cuckoo clock workshop on a soapbox with Max and Moritz and solve the problems you encounter along the way.

*. Bird Rok is an indoor roller coaster with a speed of 65 km/h you fly through the night in its claws until the bird finds his nest. You end up in one of the adventures of Sindbad the Sailor.

Location

The Efteling is in the village of Kaatsheuvel, between ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) and Tilburg.
Public transport: Trains from Amsterdam Central Station to ‘s-Hertogenbosch (jouney time 1 hour) and then bus 300, 301, 136 or 800 to Efteling bus stop (journey time 45 minutes).

By car: The Efteling is 110 km south of Amsterdam. Journey time by car is 1hour 45 minutes via the A2 and A27.

Address: Efteling, Europalaan 1, Kaatsheuvel
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday and Monday until 7 p.m.

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Photos: Wiki Commons