Efteling, Theme park in Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands.
Efteling is a theme park in Kaatsheuvel, Loon op Zand, Netherlands, covering 72 hectares and combining classic fairy tale scenes with modern rides. The grounds divide into several themed areas with roller coasters, water attractions, and the Fairy Tale Forest where animated scenes retell traditional stories.
Artist Anton Pieck and filmmaker Peter Reijnders founded this site in 1952 as a nature park with ten fairy tale displays. Over the decades, additional areas and rides were added while the original Fairy Tale Forest atmosphere was preserved.
This park presents Dutch legends and European fairy tales through rides and characters that have drawn multiple generations of families for decades. Many visitors return with their own children to share stories they discovered as kids themselves.
The site opens daily at 10 a.m., with closing times varying by season and extended during holidays. Wide paths and seating areas make the grounds easier to navigate, though longer walks between sections should be expected.
The Symbolica ride offers three different routes through a palace, allowing guests to experience different rooms and perspectives on each visit. This choice enables repeated trips with new discoveries.
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