The troll king, fairytale's character at Efteling, Netherlands
Welcome to the Efteling, one of the most enchanting theme parks in the Netherlands. As a tourist guide, I am excited to introduce you to one of the park's most beloved attractions - De Trollenkoning. De Trollenkoning is a fairy tale character that was added to the Sprookjesbos (Fairy Tale Forest) in 1988. It is located between two other popular attractions, De Rode Schoentjes (The Red Shoes) and De Sprekende Papegaai (The Talking Parrot). This animatronic figure was designed by Ton van de Ven in 1974 but only came to life in 1988. The development of the troll involved close collaboration with TNO and a team that created caricature puppets for the TV program Spitting Image. The movements of the Trollenkoning are as realistic as possible, making it an impressive sight to behold. The original Trollenkoning had 21 servo motors in its face to mimic human facial expressions accurately. Despite each mini-electric motor being cooled individually with an air hose, several servos would often burn out. However, it was discovered through trial and error that visitors hardly noticed when some of the servos were not working. Only when six or more servos were functioning correctly, they would be repaired. This usually coincided with the replacement of the mask because the rubber component used for Spitting Image was not designed to withstand daily exposure to weather conditions and would eventually crack. The moving puppet is placed inside a hollow tree, and a small pond has been created in front of it. Visitors can turn a dial on a round stone placed on a tree stump, which activates the Trollenkoning. The troll begins to mumble, talk, and laugh, and the tile on the ground in front of the dial starts to vibrate. De Trollenkoning is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the Efteling. It is a testament to the park's commitment to creating immersive and magical experiences for visitors of all ages. Don't forget to take pictures and capture this unforgettable moment during your visit to the Efteling.
Location: Loon op Zand
Source: Wikimedia
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