Inside the enchanted theme park that's 'cheaper' and 'quieter' than Disneyland
A trip to a theme park can come with buckets of fun, but also a side-portion of frazzle - thanks to long queues for rides and food, and huge crowds in high season.
However, there's one European theme park that's so serene your heart rate might be slower when you leave then when you arrive - with one visitor describing it as 'like a stroll through a beautiful park that just happens to have a rollercoaster in the middle.'
Even better, it's a bargain compared to some of Europe's biggest theme parks at just £32 a day, with children under four going free.
Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, just north of the Dutch city of Tilburg, is a fairytale-themed park that boasts an emerald lake, miniature village, monorail and steam train - as well as a host of rides thrill seekers will love.
Those who've visited have said the queues are significantly lower than at other theme parks such as Disneyland Paris and Thorpe Park - where frustrated riders can spend around 90 minutes queueing for the most popular attractions on busy days.
Since opening in 1952, the has attracted well over 100 million visitors, with its attractions reflecting elements from ancient myths and fairy tales, legends, fables, and folklore.
Ride highlights include wooden rollercoaster 'Joris en de Draak' meaning 'George and the Dragon' to a magical forest and a creepy 'cursed villa,' with every ride based on a story.
The ride that gets the biggest screams? A 60mph dive coaster known as Baron 1898.
In the oldest area, the Marerijk, the forest frames a trail of classic tales such as Rapunzel, Pinocchio and Rumpelstiltskin reconstructed from the nostalgic drawings of illustrator Anton Pieck.
While it's the largest theme park in the Netherlands, it's still relatively unknown with theme park fans in the UK - but those who've visited have been hugely impressed.
In 2023, TikToker The Travel Mum (@thetravelmum) shared a post heaping praise on Efteling, saying queue times were 10 minutes in many cases.
She told viewers: 'We have been told this theme park is better and cheaper than Disneyland, let's go and check it out.
'Efteling is a theme park in the Netherlands and with no queue to get in, tickets starting at just £34, and these cool little trolleys that you can pull bigger kids around in, I'm already impressed.
'As you walk around, there's all the magic and attention to detail that you get from a Disney park.'
She added: 'This park is huge, there's a great app you can download and as you can see, the majority of queue times are less than 10 minutes.'
Meanwhile, in the UK, one of Britain's busiest parks announced a new attraction this week.
Chessington World of Adventures revealed it will be home to the first and only Paw Patrol-themed land.
The new multi-million pound land will be Chessington's largest attraction for pre-schoolers.
Set across 1.4 acres, it will feature four thrilling rides - including an entry-level 'My first rollercoaster' - as well as play areas, and interactive character 'meet and greet' events.
Chessington World of Adventures has announced it will be home to the first and only Paw Patrol-themed land. Set across 1.4 acres, it will feature four thrilling rides - including an entry-level 'My first rollercoaster' (Rendering of the Paw Patrol-themed land above)
Guests will also enjoy a dedicated food and beverage outlet and picnic space, plus a customised retail store.
The Paw Patrol land will open in spring 2026, but kids don't need to wait until then to meet their favourite pups.
Chase, Skye and Rubble will be at Chessington from this May, helping to oversee the construction of the new land.
Starting on the 24th May, the little ones can interact with their favourite characters at the Paw Patrol Meet and Greet experience.
And, in the summer, Chessington's Safari Hotel will open five Paw Patrol-themed rooms – the first and only PAW Patrol accommodation in the UK.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
23 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Rangers throw doors open to Spanish side for new kit inspired by historic Ibrox moment
La Liga outfit Osasuna jetted into Glasgow to shoot footage for their latest strip to commemorate 40 years since Euro debut Rangers threw open the doors of Ibrox to help a Spanish side promote their new kit inspired by a historic Ibrox moment. La Liga outfit Osasuna jetted into Glasgow to shoot footage for their latest strip inside the home of the Light Blues as they released a design that commemorates the 40th anniversary of their debut in European competition in Glasgow back in 1985. They faced Rangers in the UEFA Cup and it was a 1-0 win in Glasgow to the Light Blues but the Spanish side emerged victorious in the return with a 2-0 win. The kit launch will be presented through three episodes with the first one titled 'The Journey' which shows two supporters travelling to Glasgow to enjoy the first-ever match for Osasuna on the European stage. A section on the club website explains the reason in more detail. It reads: "The new Macron and Osasuna collection will be presented through three episodes in audiovisual and photographic format in collaboration with Equipo FC. "The first, titled "The Journey," emulates the trip of two young fans to Glasgow to enjoy Osasuna's first-ever match in the former UEFA Cup. "The match saw Osasuna lose 1-0 to Rangers, a result they would eventually overturn at El Sadar (2-0), wearing the same jersey honored thanks to goals from Patxi Rípodas and Enrique Martín, whose celebration left an iconic image of him perched on the goalposts with his fist raised. The second and third kits will be unveiled after the San Fermín festivities." The video footage in part one shows the trip to Ibrox and then flashes back to some moments from the game. The commentary states: "So, It's a night of new experiences for Osasuna. "Their first ever match in European competition and played in the most remarkable conditions for them I'm sure. "With the rain totally sodden, it's been coming down in torrents all day and in fact has increased in volume as kick off approached." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Daily Record
24 minutes ago
- Daily Record
EasyJet flight diverts back to UK airport in 'extraordinary circumstance'
The flight changed direction over the North Sea after being in the air for just half an hour. An easyJet flight was forced to divert back to a UK airport after an "extraordinary circumstance" the airline firm said was "out of our control". The EZY2159 service bound for Izmir, Turkey, took off from Manchester Airport shortly before 5pm yesterday, June 30, and only got as far as Norfolk before suddenly diverting back to Manchester. A FlightRadar map showed the moment the flight changed direction over the North Sea before landing in Manchester again at around 5.50pm - roughly an hour after it departed. The airline said the diversion was due to to a "passenger welfare issue". The disruption, easyJet said, was "out of our control" and considered "an extraordinary circumstance". In an update posted to the easyJet website, the budget airline said the plane was grounded overnight, with plans being made for another service to run this morning, reports the Mirror. Specific details about the nature of the incident have not been released so far. A further update at 9pm read: "We're sorry that your flight has been delayed overnight. This is due to a passenger welfare issue. We are working hard to arrange your new flight for tomorrow. Once again, we're very sorry for the disruption to your travel plans." Easyjet has been approached for comment. It comes after it was revealed that thousands of UK holidaymakers are ditching traditional European hotspots in favour of north Africa, travel companies have reported. Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in European locations such as Spain, France and Italy. North African countries Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all experiencing a surge in visitors from the UK. Figures from aviation analysts Cirium show 19,847 flights are projected to serve routes from UK airports to those nations this year, more than twice as many as the 8,653 that travelled there in 2019. By comparison, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is forecast to rise by just 10 per cent and 9 per cent respectively over the same period. This suggests many holidaymakers who want better quality accommodation without paying more are prepared to travel a longer flight, despite airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair having seats that do not recline and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport, West Sussex, to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take around five hours and 20 minutes. That means the flight lasting an extra hour and 45 minutes compared with trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. EasyJet launched new flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, in March, which is its longest route serving England. The flights take six hours and 10 minutes and cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles. Travel company Tui said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30% higher compared with a year ago. It also reported 'double-digit growth' for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco. Tui's UK commercial director Chris Logan said these three destinations offer 'fantastic value for money', meaning traditional European destinations find it 'hard to compete'. He told the PA news agency: 'There's good accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. 'Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.' Tui has increased its flights from the UK to north Africa this summer to meet growing demand, with new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. Online accommodation marketplace said it recorded a 68 per cent increase in the number of searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw rises of 64 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel, said Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer 'incredible value for money' which is 'proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year'. She added: 'The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe. 'Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a 'clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning'. She went on: 'Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. 'This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts.'
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Tourists change plans after new warnings for Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Turkey
Tourists change plans after new warnings for Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Turkey Warnings have been issued from Portugal and Italy to Germany and Greece as UN Secretary General says 'no country is immune' Flames rise from forest area after a wildfire broke out in Seferihisar district, Izmir, Turkiye Forest fires fanned by high winds and hot, dry weather damaged some holiday homes in Turkey as a lingering heatwave covering much of Europe led authorities to raise warnings and tourists to find ways to beat the heat. A heat dome hovered over France, Portugal and Spain to Turkey on Monday, while data from European forecasters suggested other countries were set to broil further in the coming days. Heat warnings were issued for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany with new highs expected on Wednesday before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week. 'Extreme heat is no longer a rare event — it has become the new normal,' UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres tweeted from Seville, Spain, where temperatures hit 42C on Monday. Reiterating his frequent calls for action to fight climate change, Mr Guterres added: 'The planet is getting hotter and more dangerous — no country is immune.' In Portugal — his home country — a reading of 46.6C was registered in Mora, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Lisbon. Weather officials were working to confirm whether that marked a new record for June. Portuguese authorities issued a red heat warning on Monday for seven of 18 districts as temperatures were forecast to hit 43C. The first heat wave of the year has gripped Spain since the weekend and no relief is expected until Thursday, the national weather service said on Monday. The country appeared to hit a new high for June on Saturday when 46C was recorded in the southern province of Huelva, while Sunday's national average of 28C set a record for a high temperature for June 29 since records were started in 1950. Article continues below In France, which was almost entirely sweltering in the heatwave on Monday, and where air conditioning remains relatively rare, local and national authorities were taking extra effort to care for homeless and elderly people and people working outside. Some tourists were putting off plans for some rigorous outdoor activities. 'We were going to do a bike tour today, but we decided because it was going be so warm not to do the bike tour,' said Andrea Tyson, 46, who was visiting Paris from New Philadelphia, Ohio, on Sunday. Misting stations doused passers-by along the River Seine in the French capital. France's first significant forest fires of the season consumed 400 hectares (988 acres) of woods on Sunday and Monday in the Aude region in the south. Water-dumping planes and some 300 firefighters were mobilised, the regional emergency service said. Tourists were evacuated from one campground in the area. In Turkey, forest fires fanned by strong winds damaged some holiday homes in Izmir's Doganbey region and forced the temporary closure of the airport in Izmir, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities evacuated four villages as a precaution, the Forestry Ministry said. Firefighters were also battling a blaze that broke out on Monday near residential areas in Hatay province, near Turkey's border with Syria, that prompted the evacuation of 1,500 people. In Italy, the Health Ministry put 21 cities under its level three 'red' alert, which indicates 'emergency conditions with possible negative effects' on healthy, active people as well as at-risk old people, children and chronically ill people. Regional governments in north-western Liguria and southern Sicily put restrictions on outdoor work, such as construction and agricultural labour, during the peak heat hours. Article continues below The mercury was rising further north, too. In southern Germany, temperatures of up to 35C were expected on Monday, and they were forecast to creep higher until midweek – going as high as 39C on Wednesday. Some German towns and regions imposed limits on how much water can be taken from rivers and lakes. At the Berlin zoo, elephants were showered with water and bears treated with blocks of ice containing fruit.
