George and the Dragon, Wooden racing roller coaster in Efteling, Netherlands
George and the Dragon is a wooden roller coaster with two parallel tracks at Efteling park, also known as Joris en de Draak in Dutch. The two lanes run side by side and reach a speed of 75 kilometers per hour (about 47 miles per hour), with trains launching at the same time and racing each other to the finish.
The ride opened in July 2010, replacing an earlier roller coaster on the same site. Construction took several months and involved dismantling the old structure before assembling the new wooden framework.
The name refers to the old legend of George the dragon-slayer, told in many European countries. Riders choosing the Fire lane pass through a cave-like section, while those on the Water lane follow stretches with open views.
Trains depart at the same time, and choosing Fire or Water determines which side of the race you experience. Each seat offers a clear forward view, since the cars are arranged one behind the other.
The wooden structure was built from Canadian Yellow Pine, cut and assembled piece by piece directly on site. The mechanical dragon model at the station measures 12 meters (around 39 feet) in height and moves its head and wings while riders wait.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
