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Warme Winter Weide 22/11/2021 16h59
The Warme Winter Weide as main part of the Winter Efteling. Together with performances of Jelka & Kendrik there winter drinks and winter snacks and souvenirs. The Pagode on the background and the picture is complete.
Winter Efteling 2021/2022
The Warme Winter Weide (Meadow) is the big novelty of the Winter Efteling 2021-2022. Due to the covid-19 measures, the large tent on Speelweide had to make way this year for a field with campfires, snow-covered Christmas trees and stalls with food, drinks and souvenirs.
The Efteling winter season started 15/11/2020. Although the Warme Winter Meadow was born out of necessity - the old Ice Palace was not corona proof - the public is enthusiastic about the change. For the Warme Winter Meadow, Efteling has combined several existing elements. In the middle of the oval-shaped meadow there is a podium with two large campfires on either side. The field is surrounded by covered terraces, pine trees and wooden huts with winter delicacies.
We work with a fixed walking route and a separate entrance and exit. Room has been made for toilet trucks at the edge of the field. During busy periods, the Warme Winter Meadow can be temporarily closed to ensure that keeping a meter and a half distance remains possible.
Efteling miniatures are sold at one of the stalls. An Efteling Christmas village has also been built. [ Loopings 11/2021 ]
This photo "Explored" on 16/12/2021, rank # 330.
Het treinen fotograferen staat de laatste tijd op een laag pitje. Mede omdat ik meer tijd wil spenderen met vrienden en familie. Tijdens mijn meerdaagse bezoek aan de Efteling met mijn toenmalige vriendin werd ook de camera meegenomen. Voornamelijk voor het treintje in de Efteling dat gefotografeerd kon worden tijdens drukke momenten in het park waarbij de wachtrijen meer als 45 minuten waren.
Het treintje dat door het park rijdt is een heus smalspoor stoomlocomotiefje op 600 mm smalspoor met eigen gebouwde reizigersrijtuigen. Als attractie figureert de trein ook als transportmiddel om van de ene naar de andere zijde van het park te kunnen komen.
Dienstdoende machine op de dagen dat ik in het park was was loc 'Moortje'. Moortje is een van de drie stoomlocs die dienst doet op het 2,3 km traject door de Efteling. Moortje werd in 1908 gebouwd door Orenstein & Koppel en behoort tot de oudste stoomloc van de collectie. De loc was tot het eind van de jaren 60 in het bezit van meerdere smalspoorbedrijven voordat ze bij de Efteling terechtkwam. Nadat Moortje een nieuwe ketel kreeg, de achterwand van het machinistenhuis is verwijderd en ze een eigen tender kreeg, is de loc in 1974 in dienst genomen. De loc heeft in 1987 nog een revisie ondergaan bij de NS-werkplaats in Tilburg vanwege onder andere het frame dat na een val van een kraan is gebogen.
Echt goeie plekken om het treintje te kunnen fotograferen waren schaars. Mede door het ontbreken van de zon was er toch nog één en ander mogelijk in het park, waaronder een plek in het Reizenrijk in het noordoostelijke gedeelte van het park. Met uitzicht over de Siervijver rijdt het treintje over een 75 lange spoorbrug dat in 1984 werd aangelegd om een gesloten traject te realiseren. Het treintje is onderweg van station Marerijk naar Station de Oost.
Warme Winter Weide 22/11/2020 16h09
The Pagode as seen from the Wame Winter Weide (Warm Winter Meadow) of the Winter Efteling, the 2020-2021 version.
Pagode
Pagoda (or "Pagode" in Dutch) is an unobtrusive variation of an observation tower in the Efteling amusement park in the Netherlands. It was designed by Ton van de Ven and started operating in 1987.
The Pagoda, developed by Intamin as a flying island, is described by Efteling as a "flying temple".
It consists of a 155 tons weighing cabin and a 225-ton hydraulic arm which pivots it from the ground up to a height of 60 metres.
The counterweight of 340 tons sinks 30 metres into the ground.
To maintain the balance of the cabin itself the weight of the 100 visitors is distributed over its two sides.
The rotating cabin has a 15 metre high pagoda on top of it.
Etymology studies indicated that the word pagoda means tomb in Thai (ธาตุเจดีย). Preoccupied with upsetting a whole nation, as with Fata Morgana, Efteling choose the Dutch word "pagode" as the ride name.
Ride length: 4 minutes
Ride capacity: 1500 passengers/ hour
Cost: €3.6 million
[ Wikipedia 01/2019 ]
This photo "Explored" on 11/12/2020 rank # 374
Volk van Laaf - Lavelhuys 08/11/2018 13h43
The Land of Laaf or Lavenlaar in Autumn 2018. The village consists of 15 little houses like this one; the Lavelhuys. This is only a passage for the monorail (the snail vehicle at the left). Originally, this cottage was a kind of flea market for the Laven. Inside is Laaf: Lorrenloet.
Volk van Laaf
The People of Laaf is an attraction in Marerijk. It was designed by Ton van de Ven and opened its doors in 1990. It is a small village, called “Lavelaer”, inhabited by the so-called “Laafs” ("Laven" in Dutch). The visitors can walk through the village and enter the houses, among which a bakery, a brewery, a windmill and a nursery and watch the Laafs do their normal daily activities. A monorail of 450 meters in length runs through the village at an altitude of about 3 meters. In the early years you had to pedal the monorail. This was discontinued because of the possibility of "crashing" into each other. Furthermore, if you stop pedaling, the ride would be blocked for other visitors.
For the children there are slides and distorting mirrors. Little statues of Laaf people doing all kinds of activities are for sale in the souvenir shops in Efteling, but also in several garden centres.
The fairytale behind the Laven, which can be seen in the Loerhuys, recounts that during the winter before the 1990 season the Laven had built their settlement in the Efteling after a long, harsh journey through the earth. Many years ago the Laven lived on the North Pole. When the ice and the incessant snowstorms began, the people fled, led by the father of the Laven, the Great Laaf, and his wife, the Mother's Mother Lot. They could not go in any other direction than through the ground, and so the Laven began to dig. During the trip, the Great Laaf laid the Great Lead; lovingly the Laven made a picture of him and they took that on their further journey through the earth. After an adventurous journey that lasted for centuries, they finally ended up in the Efteling after they heard shouting their motto "Alaaf!".
[ Wikipedia - Eftelpedia ]
Photo 'Explored' on 03/01/2019 (first one this year), rank # 488.
Diorama 13/09/2019 16h31
I can spent a long time staring to this landscape of Anton Pieck in the walk thru attraction Diorama what opened next to the Carrouselpaleis in De Efteling.
Diorama
The Diorama is a romantic miniature world in the Marerijk, located in a darkened hall at the back of the Carrousel Palace. Anton Pieck designed this highly detailed three-dimensional world with mountain landscapes, villages, lakes and train tracks, which was opened in 1971 in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Efteling.
The hall of 225 m² in area offers a number of seating areas in the form of old-fashioned train compartments. The space is also used for events and exhibitions. Music box music plays in the hall.
Behind a sixty-metre-long glass wall with balustrade, with thirty-two panes in frames, a contiguous series of scenes has been erected against a mountain slope around a central, elongated core of painted cloudy skies. In the darkened Diorama Hall, visitors can walk around the entire miniature landscape behind glass, which is centrally located in the hall.
This photo is "Explored" on 10/10/2019, rank # 167.
Waiting for those enchanted children.
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The Sprookjesboom can hardly wait for the children to come and listen as if enchanted. And when they are there, this beautiful tree tells a beautiful tale but it's a different story every time.
Photo January 2014, Efteling (May 31, 1952) after 62 years in time.
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Details
Efteling - Sprookjesboom
Efteling (Est. 1952) - one of the oldest theme parks in the world. A very popular full-sized fantasy-themed amusement park with many attractions and a wide array of amusement rides that reflect elements from ancient myths and legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore.
Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efteling.
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Photo - Richard Poppelaars.
© About Pixels Photography: #AboutPixels / #tree #kids #Sprookjesboom #marerijk #Sprookjesbos #Efteling in #Kaatsheuvel #Netherlands
Published at - Flickr - Google Photos and Maps
Prinses op de Erwt 27/10/2025 15h54
Best time of the year to capture the most recently arrived fairytale in De Efteling is Autumn. So I waited till this time of year to capture the final result of this one. With in the background the Grand Efteling Hotel which opened in 2025 as well.
De Prinses op de Erwt
In 2023, there was already talk that a 31st addition would be made to the Fairytale Forest. In June of this year, the first design sketches were revealed by Efteling and the location was already known; in the woods between the Grand Hotel and Trollenkoning and Vrouw Holle. Designed by Sander de Bruijn. It will be a narrow building with a bell gable and a large chimney. The walls are decorated with typical Efteling stucco. There are spherical lamps and there are pirons on the roof. Visitors will soon be able to peer inside through the windows. There they will see the princess from the story lying on her mattresses.
De Bruijn, who is also the manager of the Efteling design department, describes the addition as a "royal gazebo". The new Efteling Grand Hotel is located right behind the fairytale. It was not without reason that they chose a story about sleeping: for marketing purposes, The Princess on the Pea is linked to the opening of the hotel.
"With the same style elements and design language, that connection is immediately made and the link with overnight stays becomes extra appropriate," says the designer. "The imposing hotel forms a perfect background for the gazebo, which is actually a royal annex of the Efteling Grand Hotel."
De Bruijn says he was inspired by an old sketch by Anton Pieck. "His working method and perfection are still the starting point for new designs in the world of Efteling. To highlight something small in the foreground, Anton Pieck often placed a grand decor behind it. We also apply that principle here."
De Bruijn is not a newcomer to the Fairytale Forest. He was previously responsible for De Zes Zwanen, opened in 2019. He also kept an eye on recent renovation projects, including Doornroosje. In the area of attractions, we know him from Raveleijn, Baron 1898, Symbolica, Sirocco and Archipel. The Grand Hotel also came into being on his drawing board.
Date of opening: 14/05/2025 (soft opening for pre-view guests 12/05/2025
[ Looopings ]
Anton Pieckplein 15/12/2023 14h11
The autumn of 2023 and therefore also the Winter Efteling in December will mainly be without sun, but with a lot of rain and gray, dreary and gloomy days. The atmosphere on Anton Pieckplein will become even more beautiful. A not busy day in December, a week before the schools go on Christmas holidays.
Anton Pieckplein
Anton Pieckplein is an Old Dutch village square located in the northeast corner of Marerijk, between restaurant Het Witte Paard and the Reizenrijk. Around the square are Pieck buildings with catering outlets and shops. On the square we find all kinds of fairground mills, two Holle Bolle Gijzen, the Efteling Museum and some suppliers of surprise eggs.
The square is named after founder Anton Pieck.
Pinokkio 06/03/2025 13h09
The arrival of the Efteling Grand Hotel will change the experience of the Fairytale Forest in some places. The monster fish suddenly swims near an enormous building that will become the hotel.
Pinokkio | August 2022 (construction of hotel has started)
Pinokkio
Pinocchio is a story about a wooden doll that wants to become a real boy and gets wiser by damage and shame.
In the Efteling it is the fifth representation on the route in the Sprookjesbos, between Roodkapje and the Rode Schoentjes. Via the Soldatenpoort it is the first fairytale on the right. It opened on 24 March 2016 as the 29th fairy tale in the forest. The depiction consists of the workshop of Geppetto, the Fox and the Cat, emerging from a barrel, and a pond where Pinocchio, along with his father, can be found in the mouth of a huge monster fish. The Italian-inspired fairy tale was designed by Robert-Jaap Jansen, who previously designed Vrouw Holle, and Alessio Castellani, previously responsible for Efteling media productions and even Italian. Pinocchio was built for an amount of € 2 million on the spot where previously In the North Pole and Captain Gijs stood. The latter was moved to the Ruigrijk.
FACTS & FIGURES
Opened: 24/03/2016
Design: Robert-Jaap Jansen, Alessio Castellani
Music: René Merkelbach & Marco Kuypers
Storyteller: Alessio Castellani, Jeroen Verheij & Robert-Jaap Jansen
Doornroosje 06/09/2023 11h44
Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty). The first fairy tale on the official route through the fairytale forest is one of the ten first fairy tales at the opening in 1952.
A photo taken before the major renovation of the castle. It is desperately needed: cracks have appeared in the old castle walls in recent years. There are also problems with the paving and the pond.
When it became apparent in the early 1980s that the original castle was subsiding, it was decided to demolish the scene and rebuild it. The current structure dates from 1981. Now, 42 years later, the ravages of time have taken hold again.
Efteling wants to do something about this, starting with the stones on the stairs to the castle. They have become too slippery due to wear. "To prevent unsafe situations, this path is being tackled," says project leader Mark Elings. The immediate surroundings are also taken into account.
A few days after this photo the renovation started and the visitors were bypassed by a temporary path arpund this castle directly to the Kabouterdorp (Gnome Village)
Doornroosje
Doornroosje is the first fairytale in the route of the fairytale forest is also one of the oldest fairy tales in the history of De Efteling.
It is also one of the first ten fairytales at the opening in 1952, designed by Anton Pieck, although the current scene dates from 1981 and has some adjustments from Ton van de Ven. It is depicted with a castle on a hill, where visitors can climb up a staircase to look through windows through the bedroom where Doornroosje rests and the angry fairy sits on the spinning wheel. The chefs sleep in the kitchen.
[ Eftelpedia - Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty) ]
This photo «EXPLORED» on 21/09/2023, rank # 360
Kogeloog 27/10/2025 15h34
Sometimes things you've photographed many times already are in beautiful light, or they're just too special to pass by. In this case, Kogeloog in the Fairytale Forest. It's the end of October and still not in its true autumn colors. And if you wait too long, it's winter.
Kogeloog
Kogeloog is a catering establishment in the Sprookjesbos, under the canopy opposite Langnek. It is named after the servant Kogeloog from the fairy tale of The Six Servants and sells ice cream coupes, ice cream and hot drinks.
The building is primarily intended as a shelter in the rain, and is designed as a gallery with benches. Opened in 1967 and closed in 2002. And re-opened again in April 2019. Designed by Anton Pieck.
[ Eftelpedia ]
Langnek 30/11/2023 11h36
Langnek with his winter outfit for the winter of 2023/2024.
De Zes Dinaren
The Six Servants (Dutch: De Zes Dinaren) is a fairy tale about a prince who, with the help of six servants, is able to win the hand of a princess with a special gift. The story was recorded by the brothers Grimm in 1819 for their Kinder- und Hausmärchen under the title "Die Sechs Diener". In the Netherlands, the fairy tale is mainly known by Langnek's prominent presence in the Efteling.
In the Efteling it is the third depiction on the route in the Sprookjesbos, between the Kabouterdorp and Roodkapje. The servant Langnek has been sitting on a rock since the opening of the Sprookjesbos in 1952, stretches his neck and looks calmly around. The original design is by Anton Pieck, but the giant has had transformations over the years, mainly under the direction of Ton van de Ven. In addition to the iconic figure, since 1967, the portrayal of the fairy tale is also from a gallery with the bust of another servant from the fairy tale: Kogeloog. Under the shelter are the portraits of all six servants from the title. The story is told by Peter Reijnders.
The fairy tale opens with Langnek as one of the first 10 attractions in the Sprookjesbos (Fairytale Forest) on May 31, 1952. He then has a rather small head and a rough face that resembles a coarse woodcut. He looks very strict, almost sad for himself.
FACTS & FIGURES:
Opened: 31/05/1952
Design: Anton Pieck
Technics: Peter Reijnders
Music: In the Moonlight | Albert Ketèlbey
Voice over: Peter Reijnders
Throug the years:
1952 Opening
1954 Bust of Kogeloog next to Langnek
1955 A pond around the scene has been made
1966 (approx) disappearnce of the bust of Kogeloog
1967 Gallery with the establishment opened opposite Langnek (including 'Wagen Gijs')
1972 A new head of Langnek designed by Ton van de Ven
1979 The body and the neck adjusted and a much higher rock
2002 Closing of catering point Kogeloog
2013 Major maintenance of Langnek
2019 Re-opeing of catering point Kogeloog
2022 Entrance opened, Langnek is the first fairytale caracter when using the Pardoes Promenade entrance
The Emperor's New Clothes, a short tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
Efteling: De nieuwe kleren van de keizer.
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Efteling "Sprookjesbos (1952)" (Kaatsheuvel/NL)
There are several gnome houses in the Fairytale Forest. Beautiful large mushrooms, designed by the designers Anton Pieck, Ton van de Ven and Henny Knoet and built between 1952 and 1980. They blend naturally into the surrounding park. The many paths and corridors around and in the mushrooms are a favorite with children who are looking for even more (moving) gnomes.
The music that a gnome plays on his spinet somewhere can be heard in many places. He plays Menuet in G major (Per Jocum. Opus II, Latin: "Just for fun, second work"), which is a well-known tune for many visitors.
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Fairytale Forest (Est. 1952) - the six-hectare Fairytale Forest of the Efteling is a walk through the fairytale books of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Perrault. The Efteling started as a park in 1952 with the Fairytale Forest.
Photo: In the village of the gnomes - by © Richard Poppelaars #About_Pixels #Photography (Nikon D7200) / #gnome #gnomevillage #mushroom #AntonPieck - #Marerijk #Sprookjesbos / #ThemeparcPhotography at #Kabouterdorp #Efteling in #Kaatsheuvel, #NoordBrabant - #Netherlands
Efteling (May 31, 1952), photo December 8, 2018 after 66 years 6 months 8 days since 1952. The year 2027 marks 75 years ago in time.
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Kaatsheuvel: Efteling - Themeparc Photography
Efteling (Est. 1952), one of the oldest theme parks in the world. A very popular full-sized fantasy-themed amusement park with many attractions and a wide array of amusement rides that reflect elements from ancient myths and legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore.
Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efteling.
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Published at - Flickr - Google Photos and Maps
Kikkerkoning 31/10/2022 16h32
The Kikkerkoning with backlight and a golden sky on the background.
Kikkerkoning
Frog King. The Kikkerkoning is a fairy tale about a prince who is enchanted into a frog and has to win the heart of a princess in order to change back.
In the Efteling it is the twenty-first representation on the route in the Fairytale Forest. The fairy tale opened in 1952 and was one of the first ten fairy tales designed by Anton Pieck. It consists of a fountain with four frogs that shoot up a golden ball, centrally located on Herautenplein. Aquanura is also inspired by the Frog Prince.
Kabouterhuis 22/11/2021 12h28
The beauty of De Efteling combined with the colors of Autumn.
More information:
Doornroosje 31/10/2022 16h30
Autumn atmosphere on the blind side of Doornroosje castle (Sleeping Beauty castle). This is what you see when you by-pass this fairytale.
Doornroosje
Doornroosje is the first fairytale in the route of the fairytale forest is also one of the oldest fairy tales in the history of De Efteling.
It is also one of the first ten fairytales at the opening in 1952, designed by Anton Pieck, although the current scene dates from 1981 and has some adjustments from Ton van de Ven. It is depicted with a castle on a hill, where visitors can climb up a staircase to look through windows through the bedroom where Doornroosje rests and the angry fairy sits on the spinning wheel. The chefs sleep in the kitchen.
More information:
Eftelpedia - Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty) (Dutch only)
Ton van de Venplein 22/11/2020 15h45
Never a dull moment in De Efteling
Candid shot in De Efteling
De Efteling
The Efteling is a fantasy-themed amusement park in Kaatsheuvel in the Netherlands. The attractions are based on elements from ancient myths and legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore.
The park was opened in 1952. It has since evolved from a nature park with a playground and a Fairytale Forest into a full-sized theme park. It now caters to both children and adults with its cultural, romantic, and nostalgic themes, in addition to its wide array of amusement rides.
It is the largest theme park in the Netherlands and one of the oldest theme parks in the world. It is twice as large as the original Disneyland park in California and antedates it by three years. Annually, the park has nearly 5 million visitors. In 2016, it was the third most visited theme park in Europe, behind Disneyland Paris and Europa-Park. Over the years, it has received over 125 million visitors.
Location: Kaatsheuvel, North Brabant, Netherlands
Opened: 1952
Operating season: Year-round
Visitors per annum: 4.76 million in 2016
Area: 72 ha the park; 276 ha the resort
Rides: Total 35
Roller coasters 6
Water rides 4
[ Source and much more Info: Wikipedia - De Efteling [2019] ]
Herautenplein 20/05/2023 16h33
Every now and then, a peacock is showing off his feathers.
Herautenplein
The Herautenplein is a square in the heart of the Fairy Tale Forest that has been present since its opening in 1952. The square provides access to the toilets of "Kleine Boodschap", Inn de Ersteling, the castle and the cave of Snow White, De Zes Zwanen (The Six Swanes), Cinderella and the establishment Kleyne Klaroen. On the square we find Ezeltje Strek Je, the pigeons from the fairy tale, the Bridal Gown by Genoveva, Grandpa Gijs, the Frog King and the Magic Clock. On the east side of the square it is bordered by a wall with corner towers where the Prinsenpoort is located. Here you can follow the route of the Fairy Tale Forest towards the Indian Water Lilies.
The square is seen by many as one of the most beautiful places in the park and is often referred to as "the place where it all began". Although the square has undergone many transformations in recent years, it is still characterized by a nostalgic atmosphere.
The Herautenplein was built simultaneously with the Fairy Tale Forest in 1952. The square was the last place of the attraction where fairy tales could be viewed before the trip further into the Efteling would go (presumably to the Playground or the Teahouse, given there is not much else to was done at the time).
[ Source and more Information: Eftelpedia - Herautenplein ]
De Wolf en de Zeven Geitjes 08/03/2022 16h40
The house of the Zeven Geitjes (Seven Goats on a quiet but sunny afternoon in March 2022.
De Wolf en de Zeven Geitjes
The Wolf and the Seven Goats is a fairy tale about a mother goat that warns her seven children not to open to the wolf, after which the wolf will manage to do this through ruse and deceit. It was written as "Der Wolf und die sieben jungen Geisslein" by the Brothers Grimm and appeared for the first time in the collection Kinder- und Hausmärchen in 1812.
In the Efteling it is the twelfth representation on the route in the Sprookjesbos, between Dragon Lichtgeraakt and Hans and Grietje. It is depicted as a house, where people can peek through the windows, where the kids in the living room play a game of goose board. Outside the door is the wolf, later on mother goat is on the way to the market and also the well from the fairy tale is present. It was opened in 1973 and is one of the latest expansions of the Fairy Tale Forest by Anton Pieck.
Open: 1973
Written by: Brothers Grimm
Design: Anton Pieck
Animatronics: Wolf and 8 goats
Renovated: 2014
[ Eftelpedia ]
Doornroosje 05/12/2022 12h19
Autumn atmosphere on the blind side of Doornroosje castle (Sleeping Beauty castle). This is what you see when you by-pass this fairytale.
About the same location at the end of October 2022:
Doornroosje (October 2022)
Doornroosje
Doornroosje is the first fairytale in the route of the fairytale forest is also one of the oldest fairy tales in the history of De Efteling.
It is also one of the first ten fairytales at the opening in 1952, designed by Anton Pieck, although the current scene dates from 1981 and has some adjustments from Ton van de Ven. It is depicted with a castle on a hill, where visitors can climb up a staircase to look through windows through the bedroom where Doornroosje rests and the angry fairy sits on the spinning wheel. The chefs sleep in the kitchen.
More information:
Eftelpedia - Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty) (Dutch only)
Herautenplein 22/11/2021 12h46
Herautenplein and Autumn colors. Love this time of year.
Herautenplein
The Herautenplein is a square in the heart of the Fairy Tale Forest that has been present since its opening in 1952. The square provides access to the toilets of "Kleine Boodschap", Inn de Ersteling, the castle and the cave of Snow White, De Zes Zwanen (The Six Swanes), Cinderella and the establishment Kleyne Klaroen. On the square we find Ezeltje Strek Je, the pigeons from the fairy tale, the Bridal Gown by Genoveva, Grandpa Gijs, the Frog King and the Magic Clock. On the east side of the square it is bordered by a wall with corner towers where the Prinsenpoort is located. Here you can follow the route of the Fairy Tale Forest towards the Indian Water Lilies.
The square is seen by many as one of the most beautiful places in the park and is often referred to as "the place where it all began". Although the square has undergone many transformations in recent years, it is still characterized by a nostalgic atmosphere.
The Herautenplein was built simultaneously with the Fairy Tale Forest in 1952. The square was the last place of the attraction where fairy tales could be viewed before the trip further into the Efteling would go (presumably to the Playground or the Teahouse, given there is not much else to was done at the time).
[ Source and more Information: Eftelpedia - Herautenplein ]
Spookslot 11/02/2022 14h49
Now that this iconic attraction (Spookslot, Haunted Castle in English) in the Efteling is going to disappear after 44 years, I'm going to capture as much details as possible. In 2024 a new attraction will be opened at this location. The project name is "Dance Macabre" which gives hope for the theme that might be spooky as well after all. Spookslot 1978 - 2022.
A photo especially taken and uploaded for the Wednesday Walls Group.
Spookslot
The Haunted Castle (Dutch: Spookslot) is a haunted attraction in the Efteling in the Netherlands. It was designed by Ton van de Ven and was the first attraction built outside the Fairy Tale Forest.
On July 24, 1976 the announcement on the making of the world's biggest haunted castle appeared in Brabant's daily newspaper, Het Brabants Dagblad. The article mentions that the castle would be built between the Fairy Tale Forest and the rowing and canoeing pond. This was a strategic choice, because the location of the attraction would attract visitors to the normally ‘forgotten’ southern part of the park.
The main reason for this mega-attraction was declining numbers of visitors at Efteling. Aiming for a more general public, with an attraction that didn’t depend on the weather conditions, Efteling authorized their young designer Van de Ven to start designing the ride.
Van de Ven designed the castle as a walk-through attraction and, in the style of Anton Pieck, the castle was designed to look old and decayed. It is meant to look as though it was once beautiful and majestic, but is now haunted and in ruins and somewhat romantic.
The construction took about 18 months and the castle was officially opened May 10, 1978.
On May 12 a television special was broadcast with Kate Bush singing in and around the castle. She had a big hit around the globe with "Wuthering Heights" at the time.
The waiting hall is a dimly-lit area, with several spooky items, of which an oriental ghost with a crystal looking glass is the most notable. The glass uses the pepper's ghost technique to show a beautiful woman turning into a skull. In the tower area a hairy arm stretches from the roof, holding a big chandelier. Once in a while one might have a glimpse of three horrible batlike creatures, leering down at the visitors.
Upon entering the main attraction hall, a number of scary statues and scenes prepare the audience for the main course: a look into the inner court, graveyard, and the ruins of a monastery at night. When the clock strikes twelve, a violin (also a pepper's ghost effect) starts playing the Danse Macabre of Saint-Saëns and the graveyard comes to life and a number of skeletons and ghosts are visible. One tombstone is labeled in Latin "Puella Innocenta" (innocent girl). The years on her stone (in Roman numbering) reveal that she has been living backwards in time, however it is possible that it is merely a mistake of the artist who made the stone. There is also a tombstone inside the mansion with the name "Den Hegarty", an Irish rock singer who happened to be on the radio when the stone was made. Also, it is said that the main show's appearance was influenced by the 1971 horror film "Tombs of the Blind Dead".
The maintheme of the show is a shortened version of the Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns. The movements of the animatronics are synchronized with the music; the violin that opens and closes the main part of the show demonstrates this. The show itself has been adapted four times. During the opening season in 1978 the show lasted about 12 minutes. Three months later it was cut back to 8 minutes. In 1987 the show was renewed and in 1989 the final version was completed.
FACTS & FIGURES:
Opening: 10/05/1978
Closing: Summer 2022
Design: Ton van de Ven
Costs: 3.5 milion Dutch guilders (€1,588,823)
Capacity: 800 - 1000 per hour
Show time: 6.27 minutes
Source and more information:
Warme Winter Weide 22/11/2021 17h16
The best time of the day to visit the Warme Winter Weide as main part of the Winter Efteling.
Winter Efteling 2021/2022
The Warme Winter Weide (Meadow) is the big novelty of the Winter Efteling 2021-2022. Due to the covid-19 measures, the large tent on Speelweide had to make way this year for a field with campfires, snow-covered Christmas trees and stalls with food, drinks and souvenirs.
The Efteling winter season started 15/11/2020. Although the Warme Winter Meadow was born out of necessity - the old Ice Palace was not corona proof - the public is enthusiastic about the change. For the Warme Winter Meadow, Efteling has combined several existing elements. In the middle of the oval-shaped meadow there is a podium with two large campfires on either side. The field is surrounded by covered terraces, pine trees and wooden huts with winter delicacies.
We work with a fixed walking route and a separate entrance and exit. Room has been made for toilet trucks at the edge of the field. During busy periods, the Warme Winter Meadow can be temporarily closed to ensure that keeping a meter and a half distance remains possible.
Efteling miniatures are sold at one of the stalls. An Efteling Christmas village has also been built. [ Loopings 11/2021 ]
Doornroosje 10/01/2024 11h49
An update about the renovation of Doornroosje; the scaffolding has been partly removed in the second week of 2024. It is said that apart from the sentinel, Sleeping Beauty herself, the evil stepmother, the cook and his servant a new character will be added to this representation. That could be a sentinel, but also the prince who, with or without his horse, is about to kiss Sleeping Beauty awake.
By constructing a second route around the castle, the castle will be visible from all sides.
This project should be ready at the beginning of March 2024.
Villa Volta 03/06/2023 14h14
Spring in the front yard of the cursed house of Hugo van de Loonschen Duynen.
Villa Volta
Villa Volta is an attraction in the amusement park Efteling in the Netherlands. It is a rare type of ride known as a Madhouse, which is a sort of haunted house, where the visitors get the illusion that either the building, the visitors themselves or both are turned upside down. It has been designed by Ton van de Ven and was built by Vekoma in 1996. At the time it was the first of its sort; nowadays the concept has been taken over by a number of other amusement parks.
When entering the house, there are two small waiting areas where a story is told about the house getting cursed, turning it upside down ever since. The story of Villa Volta is based on the legend of the buckriders, a fierce and merciless gang of robbers that was active in the Kempen in the Dutch provinces of North Brabant (where The Efteling is actually built) and Limburg and the bordering Belgian province of Brabant and Limburg (although the legend has as many versions about where the goat riders were in fact active). It was told that they had made a pact with the devil and flew through the sky on the backs of goats. They would mark the doors of the farms and houses where they would come and rob the place to warn the inhabitants.
Villa Volta is supposed to be the home of the leader of the goat riders, Hugo van den Loonsche Duynen, who inhabits the second waiting room as an animatronic. The house and Hugo were cursed by a mysterious woman after robbing the Abbey of Postel. She can be seen on top of the house swinging her arms on the wind. The woman tells Hugo:
“Nowhere in your house, nor in any other place in the world, will you find peace… Only when a noble man with the clear conscience like that of a newborn child enters your house will you find peace in your home and in your heart…”
Although Villa Volta is the first large scale project of this concept, the technique has been known since early 20th century. The benches where the visitors are seated are placed on a swing that swings with a maximum angle of 30-40 degrees. The interior of the house is a drum built around this swing that can turn 360 degrees, giving the visitors the illusion that they themselves are turning upside down. The music of Villa Volta was created by Ruud Bos, who also made the music for a number of other Efteling rides, such as Fata Morgana.
[ Source: Wikipedia - Villa Volta ]
Vrouw Holle 08/11/2018 15h21
Here is Vrouw Holle (Mother Holle) shaking her bedding and letting it snow. The Winter decorations are already there for the Winter Efteling. But Autumn is still there in all its beauty.
Vrouw Holle
Vrouw Holle (in English Mother Hulda), a fairytale based by the Grimm tale. The scene was designed by Pieck as Vrouw Holle. This story has been depicted, since the park opened, by a well. At the bottom of the well images are projected by Anton Pieck while a voice tells the story.
Since the winter of 2006, Mother Hulda is present in person with a new animatronic. If called upon, she opens the shutters of the cottage next door and shakes her pillow. And as in the tale, it starts to snow.
Vrouw Holle (Mother Hulda) is a fairy tale about two sisters who fall into a well in a wonderful world where the diligent daughter is rewarded and the lazy daughter is punished.
In the Efteling it is the fourteenth representation on the route in the Fairy Tale Forest, between Hansel and Gretel and Herautenplein.
It is one of the original ten fairy tales of Anton Pieck at the opening of the Sprookjesbos (fairytale forest).
Since 2006, the person Vrouw Holle, an addition by Robert-Jaap Jansen, has actually made it snow in the Fairytale Forest from her cottage. The cottage dates from before the opening of the Efteling.
Source and more information:
Roodkapje 22/11/2021 12h31
The fairy tale Roodkapje ("Little Red Riding Hood") has a pretty eye-catching signpost to get to the cottage of grandmother.
Roodkapje
Roodkapje (Little Red Riding Hood) is the fourth representation on the route in the Fairy Tale Forest, between the Six Servants and Pinocchio. The fairy tale can be found in the park from 1953, at that time in the form of a figurine of a flower-picking Red Riding Hood. The statue was replaced in 1960 by the grandmother's house. Since 1961 you can see Red Riding Hood ringing at Grandmother, who has just been eaten by the wolf who is lying in bed in bed waiting for Little Red Riding Hood. The entire scene was demolished in 2016 and rebuilt, in line with Anton Pieck's original designs.
This house is rebuilt in the year 2016 to preserve it for the next generations.
Year of opening: 1961 (built in 1960)
Rebuilt: 2016
Design: Anton Pieck
Technics: Peter Reijnders
Voice: Wieteke van Dort
Animatronic: 3
[ Eftelpedia ]
Anton Pieckplein 20/05/2023 11h12
A detail on top of one of the gates leading towards and from the picturesque Anton Pieckplein. The harmonica player is looking a bit sat in my opinion.
Anton Pieckplein
Anton Pieckplein is an Old Dutch village square located in the northeast corner of Marerijk, between restaurant Het Witte Paard and the Reizenrijk. Around the square are Pieck buildings with catering outlets and shops. On the square we find all kinds of fairground mills, two Holle Bolle Gijzen, the Efteling Museum and some suppliers of surprise eggs.
The square is named after founder Anton Pieck.
Source and more information:
Raveleijn 27/10/2025 15h06
The Raveleijn Park Show will open in the fall of 2025. This will be the year the park show, which began in 2011, will be seen for the last time. The well-known park show will be completely revamped with a new storyline and impressive show effects, featuring the current main characters. Additional elements will also be added to the recognizable decor in the open-air arena. We will also expand the catering area and add a souvenir shop. The renovated theme area is expected to open in late 2026.
Raveleijn
Ravelin (or "Raveleijn" in Dutch) is a theatre at the Efteling amusement park in the southern Netherlands. It was designed by Sander de Bruijn at a total cost of 30 million Euros and opened its doors on April 8, 2011.
Raveleijn is a multifunctional complex with, amongst others, a theatre, conference hall, restaurant and offices. The main part of Raveleijn is the arena where 5 shows (30 minutes) are performed per day. The open-air arena has a capacity of 1,200 visitors on a total of 1450 m2. The cast has 10 members and the music was composed by René Merkelbach and Het Brabants Orkest with vocals by Anneke van Giersbergen and others. The pen for the animals (5 horses, 1 owl, 1 falcon and 5 ravens) is located next to the parking area. Another main show element is a five-headed, mechanical dragon named draconicon.
The story was written by Paul van Loon and tells the tale of the Woudenberg family of seven who move to the edge of a forest. The children discover an old city gate in the forest, where a tyrant oppresses the people. As it turns out, the five kids have the special gifts needed to fight the tyrant. This story has also been made into a Book, as well as a 12-part miniseries, where more of the plot is revealed.
The show got an update from 30 April 2013 and after, still using the original tale, but with a new decor and some script changes. This new show is produced in partnership with the French theme park Puy du Fou which is renowned for its large open air park shows.
The show starts with the father of the Woudenberg family, walking among the visitor seats saying he has lost his children. After that the main show starts, four of the Children (Thomas, Maurits, Emma and Lisa) walk up to the gate of Ravelin, read the text on the gate, and walk through it. They emerge again, now older, on horses and in armour. They meet up with their younger brother Joost, who says he had discovered the gate before them.
Countess Halina warns them that a falcon is coming, announcing the arrival of the evil count Olaf Grafhart. The count emerges from the water and asks what they are doing in his city. Thomas, the oldest brother, says they are here to free the people of Ravelin of his rule. The count calls his guards, and when Halina stands up for the siblings, he makes her disappear. A fight ensues.
When the siblings emerge victorious, count Olaf calls on his Draconicon, which emerges from the foliage. Thomas calls on his brothers and sisters to make use of their elemental powers, which they got from their weapons. After Draconicon is defeated, the siblings surround count Olaf and Countess Halina is returned. The count is driven back into the water by Halina, and disappears. The siblings go back through the gate, and emerge again in their normal clothes. Here they are also reunited with their dad, and the show ends.
Doornroosje 22/11/2021 12h25
Autumn beauty seen from Doornroosje castle looking towards the Kabouterdorp
Warme Winter Weide 08/12/2020 17h25
The Warme Winter Weide as seen from above. From the Pagode to be exact.
Winter Efteling 2020/2021
The Warme Winter Weide (Meadow) is the big novelty of the Winter Efteling 2020-2021. Due to the corona measures, the large tent on Speelweide had to make way this year for a field with campfires, snow-covered Christmas trees and stalls with food, drinks and souvenirs.
The Efteling winter season started 19/11/2020. Although the Warme Winter Meadow was born out of necessity - the old Ice Palace was not corona proof - the public is enthusiastic about the change. For the Warme Winter Meadow, Efteling has combined several existing elements. In the middle of the oval-shaped meadow there is a podium with two large campfires on either side. The field is surrounded by covered terraces, pine trees and wooden huts with winter delicacies.
We work with a fixed walking route and a separate entrance and exit. Room has been made for toilet trucks at the edge of the field. During busy periods, the Warme Winter Meadow can be temporarily closed to ensure that keeping a meter and a half distance remains possible.
Efteling miniatures are sold at one of the stalls. An Efteling Christmas village has also been built. [ Loopings 11/2020 ]
Het Lavenlaar 03/06/2023 13h46
An outside wall of the Efteling in the area called Het Lavenlaar (Volk van Laaf).
A photo especially taken and uploaded for the
Volk van Laaf
The People of Laaf is an attraction in Marerijk. It was designed by Ton van de Ven and opened its doors in 1990. It is a small village, called “Lavelaer”, inhabited by the so-called “Laafs” ("Laven" in Dutch). The visitors can walk through the village and enter the houses, among which a bakery, a brewery, a windmill and a nursery and watch the Laafs do their normal daily activities. A monorail of 450 meters in length runs through the village at an altitude of about 3 meters. In the early years you had to pedal the monorail. This was discontinued because of the possibility of "crashing" into each other. Furthermore, if you stop pedaling, the ride would be blocked for other visitors.
For the children there are slides and distorting mirrors. Little statues of Laaf people doing all kinds of activities are for sale in the souvenir shops in Efteling, but also in several garden centres.
The fairytale behind the Laven, which can be seen in the Loerhuys, recounts that during the winter before the 1990 season the Laven had built their settlement in the Efteling after a long, harsh journey through the earth. Many years ago the Laven lived on the North Pole. When the ice and the incessant snowstorms began, the people fled, led by the father of the Laven, the Great Laaf, and his wife, the Mother's Mother Lot. They could not go in any other direction than through the ground, and so the Laven began to dig. During the trip, the Great Laaf laid the Great Lead; lovingly the Laven made a picture of him and they took that on their further journey through the earth. After an adventurous journey that lasted for centuries, they finally ended up in the Efteling after they heard shouting their motto "Alaaf!".
[ Wikipedia - Eftelpedia ]
De Chinese Nachtegaal 06/09/2023 12h31
The entrance of the fairytale De Chinese Nachtegaal (The Chinese Nightingale). Not my favorite one of the fairytale forest. Nevertheless, it is a beautifully developed fairy tale that is visible from a gallery. The 'pepper ghost effect' is perfectly used here.
De Chinese Nachtegaal
The Chinese Nightingale is a fairy tale about an emperor who enjoys a singing nightingale at his window every day, then receives a mechanical nightingale that breaks down, then becomes sick and only heals when the real nightingale finally comes to sing for him. It was written by the Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who published it in his fairy-tale book Nye Eventyr in 1843 under the title "Nattergalen" (Nightingale).
In the Efteling it is the twenty-ninth and last representation on the route in the Sprookjesbos. It was originally one of the first fairy tales with which the Fairy Tale Forest opened in 1952, but this simple version of a singing bird on a branch in front of a wall was replaced in 1979 by Dragon Light. Since 1999, the fairy tale in its current, grand incarnation, complete with the emperor's palace and a palace garden, can be found in the Sprookjesbos, this time between the Flying Fakir and the exit of the Sprookjesbos. Here, in a performance with different animatronics, the end of the story is depicted, with the sick emperor in bed. The first version of the fairy tale was built according to the design by Anton Pieck, the current one was designed by Ton van de Ven.
FACTS & FIGURES
Opened: 1999
Story: Hans Christian Andersen
Design: Ton van de Ven
Music: Lui Puy-Yuen and Ryuichi Sakamoto
Voice over: Angélique de Boer
Animatronics: Emperor - Nightingale - 'Death' (pepper ghost) - two lackeys
[ Eftelpedia - De Chinese Nachtegaal (Dutch only) ]
Doornroosje 08/03/2022 16h30
The gate to the castle of Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty) with the sleeping sentinel at the left.
Doornroosje
Doornroosje is the first fairytale in the route of the fairytale forest is also one of the oldest fairy tales in the history of De Efteling.
It is also one of the first ten fairytales at the opening in 1952, designed by Anton Pieck, although the current scene dates from 1981 and has some adjustments from Ton van de Ven. It is depicted with a castle on a hill, where visitors can climb up a staircase to look through windows through the bedroom where Doornroosje rests and the angry fairy sits on the spinning wheel. The chefs sleep in the kitchen.
More information:
Eftelpedia - Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty) (Dutch only)
Herautenplein 08/03/2022 16h46
The Prinsenpoort is the gate that forms the exit from the Herautenplein in the Fairytale Forest.
The brick and tile gate is located on the east side of the square, opposite the Frog King, near the Magic Clock. The gate derives its name from the six petrified princes from this fairy tale. The gate was designed by Anton Pieck and has been part of Herautenplein since the opening of the Fairytale Forest in 1952. At that time, the gate still formed the exit from the Fairytale Forest. In 2022, the roofs of the gate were completely replaced.
Herautenplein
The Herautenplein is a square in the heart of the Fairy Tale Forest that has been present since its opening in 1952. The square provides access to the toilets of "Kleine Boodschap", Inn de Ersteling, the castle and the cave of Snow White, De Zes Zwanen (The Six Swanes), Cinderella and the establishment Kleyne Klaroen. On the square we find Ezeltje Strek Je, the pigeons from the fairy tale, the Bridal Gown by Genoveva, Grandpa Gijs, the Frog King and the Magic Clock. On the east side of the square it is bordered by a wall with corner towers where the Prinsenpoort is located. Here you can follow the route of the Fairy Tale Forest towards the Indian Water Lilies.
The square is seen by many as one of the most beautiful places in the park and is often referred to as "the place where it all began". Although the square has undergone many transformations in recent years, it is still characterized by a nostalgic atmosphere.
The Herautenplein was built simultaneously with the Fairy Tale Forest in 1952. The square was the last place of the attraction where fairy tales could be viewed before the trip further into the Efteling would go (presumably to the Playground or the Teahouse, given there is not much else to was done at the time).
[ Source and more Information: Eftelpedia - Herautenplein ]
Warme Winter Weide 22/11/2021 17h24
This was one of the last possibilities this year to take a photo like this. Due to the increasing number of covid infections with a new potentially more dangerous variant, the Netherlands has introduced an evening lockdown from November 28, whereby all catering, shops and events must close at 5 p.m. Also the Efteling, which has to bring its opening time forward to 17h00.
A photo with the Warme Winter Weide as part of the Winter Efteling with the Pagode on the background during blue hour.
Winter Efteling 2021/2022
The Warme Winter Weide (Meadow) is the big novelty of the Winter Efteling 2021-2022. Due to the covid-19 measures, the large tent on Speelweide had to make way this year for a field with campfires, snow-covered Christmas trees and stalls with food, drinks and souvenirs.
The Efteling winter season started 15/11/2020. Although the Warme Winter Meadow was born out of necessity - the old Ice Palace was not corona proof - the public is enthusiastic about the change. For the Warme Winter Meadow, Efteling has combined several existing elements. In the middle of the oval-shaped meadow there is a podium with two large campfires on either side. The field is surrounded by covered terraces, pine trees and wooden huts with winter delicacies.
We work with a fixed walking route and a separate entrance and exit. Room has been made for toilet trucks at the edge of the field. During busy periods, the Warme Winter Meadow can be temporarily closed to ensure that keeping a meter and a half distance remains possible.
Efteling miniatures are sold at one of the stalls. An Efteling Christmas village has also been built. [ Loopings 11/2021 ]
Herautenplein 11/02/2022 13h59
Due to the preparation of the construction of the hotel near the entrance area, many trees have been cut. And that is now clearly visible on Herautenplein.
Herautenplein
The Herautenplein is a square in the heart of the Fairy Tale Forest that has been present since its opening in 1952. The square provides access to the toilets of "Kleine Boodschap", Inn de Ersteling, the castle and the cave of Snow White, De Zes Zwanen (The Six Swanes), Cinderella and the establishment Kleyne Klaroen. On the square we find Ezeltje Strek Je, the pigeons from the fairy tale, the Bridal Gown by Genoveva, Grandpa Gijs, the Frog King and the Magic Clock. On the east side of the square it is bordered by a wall with corner towers where the Prinsenpoort is located. Here you can follow the route of the Fairy Tale Forest towards the Indian Water Lilies.
The square is seen by many as one of the most beautiful places in the park and is often referred to as "the place where it all began". Although the square has undergone many transformations in recent years, it is still characterized by a nostalgic atmosphere.
The Herautenplein was built simultaneously with the Fairy Tale Forest in 1952. The square was the last place of the attraction where fairy tales could be viewed before the trip further into the Efteling would go (presumably to the Playground or the Teahouse, given there is not much else to was done at the time).
[ Source and more Information: Eftelpedia - Herautenplein ]
Het Meisje met de Zwavelstokjes 22/11/2021 13h04
One of the most beautiful but also saddest fairy tales of the Fairytale Forest. Now in an autumnal setting.
Het Meisje met de Zwavelstokjes
The little Match Girl is a fairy tale about a poor girl who tries to sell matchsticks on a cold New Year's Eve, seeing visions as she lowers the sticks only to eventually die. It was written by Hans Christian Andersen under the name "Den lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne" and first published as a separate fairy tale in December 1845.
In the Efteling it is the twenty-sixth depiction on the route in the Fairytale Forest, between Rumpelstiltskin and the Emperor's New Clothes. The fairy tale, designed by Michel den Dulk, was added to the Fairytale Forest in December 2004, behind the building of the Indian Water Lilies. It is a covered performance, in which the story is recited in rhyme by Toos van de Voorde. In a snow-covered street with a cityscape in the background, a kneeling girl can be seen lighting matchsticks, after which her visions are projected. The show portrays the entire story, which is quite rare within the Fairytale Forest.
The Little Match Girl is built on an artificial hill, so that the fairy tale is a bit higher. Such an elevation can also be found at Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood; it's a simple and successful way to add cachet to a fairy tale.
Opened: 11/12/2004
Fairytale written by: Hans Christian Andersen
Design: Michel den Dulk
Music: Maarten Hartveldt
Voice: Toos van de Voorde
More information: Eftelpedia - Meisje met de Zwavelstokjes
Het Diorama is een miniatuurwereld, gelegen in het Marerijk in attractiepark de Efteling. Anton Pieck ontwierp deze zeer gedetailleerde wereld, die op 25 mei 1971 werd geopend ter ere van het twintigjarig bestaan van de Efteling (gerekend vanaf de opening van de speeltuin in de Efteling in 1951). Het bevindt zich in het Carrouselpaleis, naast het Waterorgel.
In een overdekte hal bevindt zich een zestig meter lange vitrine met daarin op schaal bergen, huizen, kastelen en kerken, waartussen modeltreintjes rijden, automobielen zich voortbewegen en echt water stroomt. Ook is het Spookslot in het klein te zien. Het diorama heeft een dag- en een nachtzijde. Bij hoge uitzondering maakte Märklin jarenlang speciaal voor de Efteling de Minex stoomtreintjes (schaal 0) die op de voorgrond rijden.
Aan deze volledig uit piepschuim vervaardigde attractie werkte ook Ton van de Ven mee. Hij maakte enkele schetsen, maar deze zijn niet in het Diorama gerealiseerd. Jaren later echter zouden de ideeën wel verder uitgewerkt worden in het Kastelenrijk van de attractie Droomvlucht.
In 2007 werd de attractie volledig gerenoveerd: alle rails werden vervangen, de schakelmechanismen voor de seinen zijn verwijderd en er is een zevental kleine attracties uit de 'grote' Efteling toegevoegd, waaronder Holle Bolle Gijs, het Ganzenhoedstertje en Zwaan-kleef-aan. Ook Anton Pieck heeft, zittend achter zijn schildersezel, een plekje gekregen in het Diorama.
-
Photograph taken by
Jos van der Heiden (2016)
Anton Pieckplein 05/12/2022 15h16
A quiet corner and wall in themepark De Efteling on the backside of the Anton Pieckplein.
A photo especially taken and uploaded for the
Anton Pieckplein
Anton Pieckplein is an Old Dutch village square located in the northeast corner of Marerijk, between restaurant Het Witte Paard and the Reizenrijk. Around the square are Pieck buildings with catering outlets and shops. On the square we find all kinds of fairground mills, two Holle Bolle Gijzen, the Efteling Museum and some suppliers of surprise eggs.
The square is named after founder Anton Pieck.
Source and more information:
Birthday Photo 2021 29/06/2021 13h12
Fifty Seven!
My birthday tradition is a photo at my birthday. This year with a new Fred Perry polo shirt in front of Villa Volta in De Efteling.
Age:
57 years 0 months 0 days
or 684 months 0 days
or 2974 weeks 1 days
or 20,819 days
or 499,656 hours
or 29,979,360 minutes
or 1,798,761,600 seconds
Photo taken by Olaf Stappers WMC*
[* WMC = With My Camera]
Warme Winter Weide 22/11/2021 17h15
The Warme Winter Weide as main part of the Winter Efteling.
Fire Prince Kendrik and Snow Princess Jelka are a regularly recurring royal entertainment duo during the Winter Efteling.
Fire Prince Kendrik and Snow Princess Jelka were first seen during the 2014-2015 edition and have been a regular part of the winter program since that year.
The two usually twirl around, with the wafer-thin storyline they convey in monologue and song based on their unlikely association, given their genealogy: Jelka's father the Winter King always claimed that the 'World of Fire' was the enemy: she'd love it. to melt. But, it's only her heart that melts for Kendrik. Kendrik's mother the Fire Queen used to say that the 'World of Snow' would quickly put out his fire, but Jelka's heart is on fire because of Jelka.
Winter Efteling 2021/2022
The Warme Winter Weide (Meadow) is the big novelty of the Winter Efteling 2021-2022. Due to the covid-19 measures, the large tent on Speelweide had to make way this year for a field with campfires, snow-covered Christmas trees and stalls with food, drinks and souvenirs.
The Efteling winter season started 15/11/2020. Although the Warme Winter Meadow was born out of necessity - the old Ice Palace was not corona proof - the public is enthusiastic about the change. For the Warme Winter Meadow, Efteling has combined several existing elements. In the middle of the oval-shaped meadow there is a podium with two large campfires on either side. The field is surrounded by covered terraces, pine trees and wooden huts with winter delicacies.
We work with a fixed walking route and a separate entrance and exit. Room has been made for toilet trucks at the edge of the field. During busy periods, the Warme Winter Meadow can be temporarily closed to ensure that keeping a meter and a half distance remains possible.
Efteling miniatures are sold at one of the stalls. An Efteling Christmas village has also been built. [ Loopings 11/2021 ]
Carrouselpaleis 08/03/2022 16h27
A detail shot of the Carrouselpaleis in De Efteling.
Carrouselpaleis
The Carrouselpaleis is a building in Marerijk, with a multifunctional interpretation behind a facade in the style of nineteenth century fairground romance. Four attractions are housed in the building, but not all of them are still accessible. These are:
- Diorama
- Water Organ (closed)
- Steam Carousel
- Carrousel Theater (not in use on daily basis)
The building also houses a toilet group, the staff restaurant and a changing room. The square at the front of the complex is called the Carrouselplein.
The complex is divided into four areas. The Steam Carousel can be found in the center. It is a nineteenth century salon carousel, including a bar, wall paintings, lots of lavish baroque style, lamps and various wooden chairs and tables. Around the carousel is a horseshoe-shaped hall, where the other rooms are located on the three outer sides.
Initially, the building only consists of the Steam Carousel, opened on May 11, 1956, after which it is expanded over the years into a complex that houses several attractions.
Pinokkio 03/06/2023 15h18
The side wall of the house of Geppetto in the Sprookjesbos (Fairytale Forest) in De Efteling.
A photo especially taken and uploaded for the
Pinokkio
Pinocchio is a story about a wooden doll that wants to become a real boy and gets wiser by damage and shame.
In the Efteling it is the fifth representation on the route in the Sprookjesbos, between Roodkapje and the Rode Schoentjes. Via the Soldatenpoort it is the first fairytale on the right. It opened on 24 March 2016 as the 29th fairy tale in the forest. The depiction consists of the workshop of Geppetto, the Fox and the Cat, emerging from a barrel, and a pond where Pinocchio, along with his father, can be found in the mouth of a huge monster fish. The Italian-inspired fairy tale was designed by Robert-Jaap Jansen, who previously designed Vrouw Holle, and Alessio Castellani, previously responsible for Efteling media productions and even Italian. Pinocchio was built for an amount of € 2 million on the spot where previously In the North Pole and Captain Gijs stood. The latter was moved to the Ruigrijk.
FACTS & FIGURES
Opened: 24/03/2016
Design: Robert-Jaap Jansen, Alessio Castellani
Music: René Merkelbach & Marco Kuypers
Storyteller: Alessio Castellani, Jeroen Verheij & Robert-Jaap Jansen
[ Source and more Info: Eftelpedia - Pinokkio ]
De Zes Zwanen 05/04/2023 15h43
Spring in De Efteling. Floating swans and saffron crocuses.
De Zes Zwanen
The Six Swans is a fairy tale about six brothers who have been turned into swans and their sister Elisa who has to knit shirts from asters to free them. It was recorded by the Grimm brothers under the title "Die sechs Schwäne" and was recorded in Kinder- und Hausmärchen under number 49. There are many variations of the story, as well as similar fairy tales including "The Wild Swans" by Andersen.
In Efteling, it is the 19th representation on the route in the Fairytale Forest, between The Wedding Dress of Genoveva and Cinderella. A small castle on a rock with a striking tower, the overall shape of which is reminiscent of a swan. In front of it is a pond where you can take a seat in one of the six swans that run laps. It is the only fairy tale in the forest that has a transport system. However, it is also possible to enter the building on foot. The fairy tale was built in 2019 for an amount of € 2.5 million.
FACTS & FIGURES
Opened: 28/09/2019
Story: Grimm Brothers
Design: Sander de Bruijn
Music: René Merkelbach
Voice: Wieteke van Dort
[ Eftelpedia - De Zes Zwanen (Dutch) ]
Sprekende Papegaai 22/11/2021 12h34
The 8th fairytale on the standard route of the Fairytale Forest in Autumnal colors together with the route towards the Raponsje.
Sprekende Papegaai (February 2018)
De Sprekende Papegaai
(The Talking Parrot)
The Talking Parrot, also called The Bold Princess, is the eighth fairy tale on the route in the Sprookjesbos. It was one of the first ten fairy tales that were present at the opening in 1952. The whole concept is based on the then relatively new technique of tape recorders. There can be called to a parrot on a stick, after which a few seconds later the called will be played again at higher speed.
The name "The naughty little princess" comes from the story that was later written by the scene, which is about a little princess that has such fun in people, that she is changed into a parrot for punishment.
The representation consists of a parrot on a branch in a niche in a brick wall. A slate roof has been made above the wall. Next to the parrot there is a small sign on the wall with the text "Talk as long as the eye is red". And indeed, everything that is screamed to the parrot during that period is repeated a few seconds later on a higher note.
The technique behind the fairy tale was devised by Peter Reijnders; in fact he first thought up the technique and later on an imagination and story was devised.
For the Talking Parrot, a special tape recorder was built which records for 6 seconds and then plays in 5 seconds to create a parrot effect. The device for this was designed and built by Henk Knuivers, then Chief of the Technical Department. [1] Because the tire was so fast, the mechanism was later replaced by another analog device. The fairy tale now works with digital equipment. The original tape recorder is exhibited in the Wonder Depot.
[ Source and more Info: Eftelpedia - De Sprekende Papegaai ]
Doornroosje 03/06/2023 14h32
Soon the Efteling will totally renovate the castle of Doornroosje. One of the 10 first fairytales of the Sprookjesbos (Fairytale forest) needs some loving tender care. The stairs are very slippery when wet and therefor a bit dangerous.
More information:
Eftelpedia - Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty) (Dutch only)