Efteling
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Efteling (Dutch: De Efteling) 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 in 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.
History
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 initial 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'.
Van de Ven continued his work until 2002, when he retired. A new generation of 'imagineers' is currently working on new Efteling rides in the form of a team, and as it seems there's no single creative director taking the lead.
Some other (but less important) designers have also contributed to Efteling. Henny Knoet designed the park's mascotte Pardoes, Michiel den Dulk redesigned the Anton Pieck Square and Marieke van Doorn was responsible for PandaDroom (2002).
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. These divisions are contained in commercial corporations, but all shares are still held by the not-for-profit Efteling Naturepark Foundation.The Park
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' (Rough 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 in between 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 unusual 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 better 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 thousands of people visit the park.
Famous rides and fairy tales in Efteling and their designers
1952 - The Castle of 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 rapids ride, Van de Ven)
1984 - Carnival Festival (darkride, Geesink)
1985 - Swiss Bob
1986 - Fata Morgana (darkride, Van de Ven)
1987 - Pagode (flying island, Van de Ven)
1988 - Troll King
1990 - The People of Laaf (Van de Ven)
1993 - Flight of Dreams (dark ride, Van de Ven)
1996 - The House of the Five Senses (the park's spectacular entrance, Van de Ven)
1996 - Villa Volta (madhouse, Van de Ven)
1998 - Vogel Rok (indoor coaster, Van de Ven)
2002 - Efteling Theater (Van de Ven) and PandaVision (3D cinema, Van Doorn and associates)
2003 - Anton Pieck Square revision (Michel den Dulk)
2007 - (in production) The Flying Dutchman (water coaster, Karel Willemen et al.)
Awards
- In 1972 the Efteling received the Pomme d'Or for best European themepark. The Pomme d'Or (golden apple) is the highest award in the European tourist industry.
- In 1992 the IAAPA Applause Award was awarded for the best themepark in the world.
- In 1997 Villa Volta as first 'new style' madhouse in the world receives the Thea Attraction Award.
- In 2005 the Efteling received the THEA Classic Award. This Classic Award is the ultimate token of recognition for an amusement park, because it is awarded by other people in the industry. The Efteling is the second park to receive a prize for their entire oeuvre, the first being the park Tivoli Gardens.
The Disney connection
The Efteling has a good relation with the Disney themeparks. Disneyland Paris consulted the Efteling during its' construction and design phase, to have the American park adapted to European culture. As a token of appreciation the Disney Company gave the Efteling a small statue. Also, Ton van de Ven (former Creative Director) is a good friend of Disney's Tony Baxter (Senior Vice President of Disney Imagineering)
External links
- [The official park web site, in multiple languages]
- [Wonderlijkewcweb.org, The largest and most popular Efteling related web site, maintained by fans (Dutch only)]
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