A trip to a theme park can come with buckets of fun, but also a side-portion of frazzle – thanks to long queues for rides and food, and often huge crowds in high season.
However, there’s one European theme park that’s so serene your heart rate might be slower when you leave then when you arrive – with one visitor describing it as ‘like a stroll through a beautiful park that just happens to have a rollercoaster in the middle.’
Even better, it’s a bargain compared to some of Europe’s biggest theme parks at just £32 a day, with children under four going free.
Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, just north of the Dutch city of Tilburg, is a fairytale-themed park that boasts an emerald lake, miniature village, monorail and steam train – as well as a host of rides thrill seekers will love.
Those who’ve visited say the queues are often significantly lower than at other theme parks such as Disneyland Paris and Thorpe Park – where frustrated riders can spend around 90 minutes queueing for the most popular attractions on busy days.
Since opening in 1952, Efteling has seen well over 100 million people visit, with its attractions reflecting elements from ancient myths and fairy tales, legends, fables, and folklore.
Ride highlights include wooden rollercoaster ‘Joris en de Draak’ meaning ‘George and the Dragon’ to a magical forest and a creepy ‘cursed villa,’ with every ride based on a story.
The one that gets the biggest screams? A 60mph dive coaster known as Baron 1898.
From the wooden rollercoaster ‘Joris en de Draak’ meaning ‘George and the Dragon’ to a magical forest and a creepy ‘cursed villa,’ every ride is based on a story
It’s attractions reflect elements from ancient myths and fairy tales, legends, fables, and folklore
Efteling is a fantasy themed park with fairytales at it’s heart – since opening in 1952, it has attracted more than 100 million visitors
In the oldest area, the Marerijk, a beautiful forest frames a trail of classic tales such as Rapunzel, Pinocchio and Rumpelstiltskin reconstructed from the nostalgic drawings of illustrator Anton Pieck.
And while it’s the largest theme park in the Netherlands, it’s still relatively unknown with theme park fans in the UK – but those who’ve visited have been hugely impressed.
In 2023, TikToker The Travel Mum (@thetravelmum) shared a post heaping praise on Efteling, saying queue times were 10 minutes in many cases.
She told viewers: ‘We have been told this theme park is better and cheaper than Disneyland, let’s go and check it out.
‘Efteling is a theme park in the Netherlands and with no queue to get in, tickets starting at just £34, and these cool little trolleys that you can pull bigger kids around in, I’m already impressed.
‘As you walk around, there’s all the magic and attention to detail that you get from a Disney park.’
She added: ‘This park is huge, there’s a great app you can download and as you can see, the majority of queue times are less than 10 minutes.’
Meanwhile, in the UK, one of Britain’s busiest parks announced a new attraction this week.
Chessington World of Adventures revealed it will be home to the first and only Paw Patrol-themed land.
The new multi-million pound land will be Chessington’s largest attraction for pre-schoolers.
Set across 1.4 acres, it will feature four thrilling rides – including an entry-level ‘My first rollercoaster’ – as well as play areas, and interactive character ‘meet and greet’ events.
A British mother has hailed a park in the Netherlands as being a ‘better and cheaper’ alternative to Disneyland
Chessington World of Adventures has announced it will be home to the first and only Paw Patrol-themed land. Set across 1.4 acres, it will feature four thrilling rides – including an entry-level ‘My first rollercoaster’ (Rendering of the Paw Patrol-themed land above)
Guests will also enjoy a dedicated food and beverage outlet and picnic space, plus a customised retail store.
The Paw Patrol land will open in spring 2026, but kids don’t need to wait until then to meet their favourite pups.
Chase, Skye and Rubble will be at Chessington from this May, helping to oversee the construction of the new land.
Starting on the 24th May, the little ones can interact with their favourite characters at the Paw Patrol Meet and Greet experience.
And, in the summer, Chessington’s Safari Hotel will open five Paw Patrol-themed rooms – the first and only PAW Patrol accommodation in the UK.
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