Efteling

Efteling ('De Efteling' in Dutch) is the largest and most popular theme park in The Netherlands, and one of the leading theme parks in Europe. It is also one of the oldest theme parks in the world. Efteling is located in the town of Kaatsheuvel, in the municipality of Loon op Zand. Efteling was opened 1952.

Originally it catered towards children with a fairy tale theme, nowadays Efteling appeals to young and old with its cultural, romantic and nostalgic theme and its variety of amusement rides. In over fifty years, Efteling has evolved from a general nature park with playground and unique Fairy Tale Forest, into a full-size theme park along the lines of Disneyland. In 1992, Efteling received the IAAPA Applause Award for Best Amusement Park in the World.

Contents

1 History

1.1 Design

2 Divisions

3 The Park

4 Famous rides and fairy tales in Efteling and their designers

5 External links

History

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Herald Square (Herautenplein) in the Fairy Tale Forest

Efteling 'officially' opened on May 31st, 1952, when the Fairy Tale Forest (het Sprookjesbos), designed by the famous Dutch illustrator Anton Pieck, was declared open. Initially, the Fairy Tale Forest was home to some ten different fairy tales. All of them were brought to life based on original drawings by Anton Pieck, and very ingenious movement-, lighting- and sound effects, designed by the Dutch film maker Peter Reijnders. The life size fairy tales, displayed together in a forest, proved to be an enormous success. In 1952, Efteling welcomed 240,000 visitors.

There is some debate about whether May 31st, 1952 is the actual start of Efteling. Some argue that 1950 should be considered the official start of the park, since in that year 'Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling', or Efteling Nature Park Foundation, was founded. Others prefer 1953, when Efteling was declared 'open' by a government official, coinciding with the opening of the park's second large restaurant facility that still exists as 'De Ballonvaarder'.

Design

The success of Efteling has largely been contributed to its very special ride designs and architecture, and its beautiful green environments and gardening. The park, under the aegis of its creative directors, has always had a very high standard for its 'imagineering'. When Anton Pieck was asked to design the inital fairy tales for the park, he made sure the park would live up to his personal high standards. No cheap building materials, no plastic, no concrete. Anton Pieck's illustration style, a bit grim and dark yet very romantic and nostalgic, was the thematic base on which almost all future expansions were built.

Anton Pieck worked for Efteling until the mid 70s, when his position as chief designer was passed on to the young Ton van de Ven. Ton van de Ven had been working for Efteling for several years and Pieck was very pleased with his work. The Haunted Castle (het Spookslot), the first seriously large ride outside of the Fairy Tale Forest (opened 1978), was the first ride Ton designed all by himself, though he got some ideas from Pieck when they brainstormed together on a few afternoons. After the Haunted Castle, Ton would design a great number of very successful rides and new fairy tales. These rides would provide him with the unofficial title of 'The World's Best Imagineer outside of Disney'.

Ton continued his work until 2002, when he retired. A new generation of 'imagineers' is currently working on new Efteling rides, though Michel den Dulk, whose work is most similar to that of Pieck and Van de Ven, seems to be taking the lead in the team.

In parallel with Ton van de Ven some other (but less important) designers have also contributed to Efteling. Henny Knoet designed the park's mascotte Pardoes and Marieke van Doorn was responsible for PandaDroom (2002), a ride that by many is considered to be very non-Eftelingesque and one of the park's biggest mistakes.

Divisions

Efteling is currently divided in three sections: one running the park (1952), one running the four-star Efteling Hotel (1992), and a division running an 18-hole golf course (1995). The hotel was operated with Golden Tulip for years, but recently Efteling decided to exploit it independently. All three divisions are (in 2003) turning in nice profits, although it took the golf course several years to reach the break-even-point.

The Park

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Main show of the Haunted Castle (Spookslot)

Efteling currently covers approximately 160 acres (650,000 m²). This number changed only marginally over the course of the park's 50+ year history. The park's non-profit foundation and only shareholder (Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling) has a much larger area of land available though. Currently, this is mostly covered with young forests, some grassland, roads and an 18-hole golf course.

The park is divided into four 'themed areas' or 'realms', though one should not mistake these areas for something comparable to Disney's 'lands'. Originally, the park was divided into four areas called 'North', 'West', 'East', and 'South', with most of the park's historical rides and attractions, like the Fairy Tale Forest, located in West. When the park reorganized its main infrastructure in the late 90s (adding the Pardoes Promenade and a central hub called 'Efteling Brink'), it also changed these area names. North changed to 'Reizenrijk' (Travel Realm), West turned into 'Marerijk' (Fairy Realm), East got called 'Ruigrijk' (Adventure Realm) and South is nowadays named 'Anderrijk' (Alternative Realm). Most of these names are rather cryptical and whether they fit their areas is up for debate, because the park was never built with this division in mind. It is argued that the only area that seems to fit its name, at least a bit, is 'Ruigrijk' (Rough Realm, literally), where most fast rides like the double-loop coaster 'Python' (1981) are located. However, on a closer look the other names make some sense too. 'Marerijk' is the home to the Fairy Tale Forest and the Fairies of the 'Droomvlucht', 'Anderrijk' has a few rides that are inspired by non-Western cultures, like 'Fata Morgana' and 'Piraña' and 'Reizenrijk' has the ride 'Carnaval Festival', that lets you travel through several different countries.

Not only the Fairy Tale Forest, but almost the entire Efteling park, was built inbetween real trees, creating a very special and unique 'nature park' feeling. Together with the large ponds and gardens (with thousands of flowers and an army of gardeners) this gives the park a very green and friendly feeling that is most unique among the world's leading themeparks. The only large park that seems to get close to this special atmosphere is Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, Dutch climate and the reliance on greenery and trees for a huge part of the park's great looks (and theming!), are putting a bit of a stopper on a truly successful year-round opening. Efteling used to be closed all winter (only being open from April through October), but the park's management, struggling to make the park more profitable and create a beter return-on-investment, has been experimenting with a so-called 'Winter Efteling' since 1999. Thanks to great efforts to decorate the park using loads of pine trees and thousands of christmas lights in winter, 'Winter Efteling' is growing more popular every year. Reaching a climax during the holidays when thousends of people visit the park.

Famous rides and fairy tales in Efteling and their designers

1952 - The Castle of the Sleeping Beauty (Anton Pieck)
1956 - The Steam Carousel (bought from L. Janvier)
1958 - Holle Bolle Gijs (Anton Pieck)
1958 - The Flying Fakir (Anton Pieck)
1966 - The Indian Waterlelies (Anton Pieck)
1968 - The Efteling Steam Train
1971 - Diorama (Anton Pieck)
1978 - The Haunted Castle (Van de Ven)
1981 - Python (a rollercoaster built by Vekoma)
1981 - Gondoletta
1982 - Halve Maen (the Crescent, a ship swing - Van de Ven)
1983 - Piraña, a river ripids ride (Van de Ven)
1984 - Carnival Festival (Geessink)
1985 - Swiss Bob
1986 - Fata Morgana (Van de Ven)
1987 - Pagode (Van de Ven)
1990 - The People of Laaf (Van de Ven)
1992 - Flight of Dreams (Van de Ven)
1995 - The House of the Five Senses, the park's spectacular entrance (Van de Ven)
1996 - Villa Volta (Van de Ven)
1998 - Vogel Rok (Van de Ven)
2002 - Efteling Theater (Van de Ven) and PandaVision (Van Doorn and associates)
2003 - Anton Pieck Square revision (Michel den Dulk)
2006 - (in production) The Flying Dutchman (Michel den Dulk)