De Winter Efteling
Europalaan 1
5171 KW Kaatsheuvel
Opened from 14 november until February
During the Christmas holidays we are going to the Winter Efteling for a day, quite an undertaking! The little ones don't come along, it's much too cold for them to be outside for long. The long distances walking are also too much for them, the park is very big. They have to wait a few more years, then it won't be so overwhelming. The tickets cost a fortune, but you can save for a discount at Albert Heijn.
We still like the Fairytale Forest very much, especially in winter style. Everything is so beautifully white with the newly fallen (fake) snow on it and the atmospheric lights on this dark winters day. Everything you see are come to life Anton Pieck drawings, very beautiful! Ezeltje Strek Je (the coin pooping Donkey) has a Christmas wreath around his neck and two cute Gingerbread Man are drinking from a well with lemonade, at the house of the Witch of Hansel and Gretel.
The guards at the Indian Water Lilies are wearing their warm winter coats, but the Troll King sits imperturbably on his throne, bare-legged. Brrrr, too cold! Little Red Riding Hood is bringing some Christmas goodies to her Gran, nice and warm in het cape with hood, and Longneck is wearing his ear muffs. That is much better in this cold winter weather!
Fires are lit in the squares and there are benches placed around it, so you can rest for a moment. There are stalls everywhere with goodies and hot chocolate, cozy in the twilight. Everywhere you see beautifully lit Christmas trees and attractions and in between we have fun in the interior spaces of the Fata Morgana, the Villa Volta and the Haunted House.
All in all it was an awesome day, even though we are terribly cold and very tired and we are walking back a very long way, in search of the car. The Efteling remains the most special family amusement park in the Netherlands. Brought to life so beautifully by the atmospheric, nostalgic and typical old Dutch designs of Anton Pieck. With its many attractions, there is something special for everyone to do and for generations parents and children have had a lot of fun here, just like we did today.
We wish you all a very merry Christmas holiday!