Baron 1898, Steel roller coaster at Efteling, Netherlands
Baron 1898 is a steel roller coaster at the Dutch theme park Efteling that plunges riders through a vertical shaft into the ground. The track leads through inversions and winding passages over a reconstructed mining hill.
The installation opened in 2015 as the first major roller coaster in over a decade at the park, marking the expansion of thrill offerings for older visitors. It was built in close collaboration with the American manufacturer that had previously constructed similar designs in other countries.
The name refers to Baron Gustave Hooghmoed, a fictional 19th-century character who dug for gold despite warnings from supernatural forces. Visitors enter a reconstructed mine shaft with steaming ore carts and old tools that recall Dutch mining legends.
The ride experience lasts just under three minutes and begins with a slow climb before the free fall starts. Younger children often stay outside since a minimum height requirement applies.
Before boarding, guests pass through a darkened room where projections show ghostly apparitions and tell the backstory of the gold search. Even during the queue, mechanical figures and lamps move in time with the music.
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