Question about Efteling

[DoctoraNova]

Hi,

Thinking about a last minute holiday to Efteling at the end of May. We have three kids, 7, 5 and and 3. Can anyone recommend where to stay within Efteling. Which is better, Bosrijk or Loonsche Land?

Thanks.

Bosrijk for sure. You get separate rooms and can use the pool.

You’ll love it, it’s amazing. Hang on and I’ll dig out the plan because some of the bosrijk playgrounds are better than others if you want to let the older ones go off on their own.

Ok the map on the website is broken, but I’ve downloaded.

We stayed where the yellow is - the patio opens direct into that field for the kids to run around.

Where I’ve highlighted green, there was a climbing frame which your older kids could play on. The patios look directly onto them. They’re the village houses - the others are the woodland houses.

Even the furthest away from the park are no more than a ten minute walk, even with a three year old, and the train will take you there if you time it right!

We paid the extra for the house of our choosing which i’d do again.

PS the houses are great, the beds are sooooo comfy and they come with travel cot and high chair and a toddler toilet seat.

I’m quite passionate about Efteling!

Just going to casually hang around here as I'm thinking of doing the same OP!

Wow. Thanks a million. Yeah, I would really love to go. Think I will book it tonight.

@Diana
I've heard on here mention of a pool in Bosrijk, where is that?

I've read the previous treads in the short haul section, but and other tips would be welcome!

If you look on the map, it’s by the entrance castle at the bottom middle. I just noticed it looks a bit like a dog’s face lol!

We did Monday-Friday last week in August a few years ago it was fantastic.

The roads are easy to get to, the flights were 45 mins (although if I were doing it again I’d try to fly in later, our flight was at 4am or something and then the house wasn’t ready till 3pm by which time we’d been there hours and I was exhausted).

There’s a small shop where you can buy food and stuff on site, but there’s supermarkets within easy reach if you prefer to cook in the house. Each house has a pod coffee maker and dishwasher which is quite luxurious for a holiday home, the maids replenish every couple of days I think.

If you can, do breakfast at the restaurant at least once because the characters come in. The kids love it.

Loonsche is new. The houses are brighter and bigger... surrounded by dunes... little petting farm and it's own hotel.
I really liked it, the rooms were huge but.... it didn't have the atmosphere of bosrick and you couldn't use the pool!!

So for me, bosrick... it's also marginally closer to walk.
Bosrick has houses and mini apartments. Looks onto gorgeous lake. The pool is small but but big enough and cute.

It's utterly fabulous. The pinocchio restaurant is fun to book first night... whilst get bearings.

Oh and the White horse self service over looking carousel square is nice. Spend time in land of the lafs...we spent half a hot Day there once my DC were fascinated by the stepping stones and little bridges.

@dianaprincessofthemyscira

Go over weekend next time in July augyst6, because lots of entertainment put on... characters walking around the forest.... sometime quite discreetly! Eg puss in boot's sat on log preening himself... slightly out of way 😁

I really want to go over a weekend as I’ve heard that! Also I believe the park is open into the evening as well although that might only be special events. A colleague went for new year and said it was amazing.

Yes open until..10 or even 11;! We did the water ride in the dark , DC loved it fairytale characters in wood and droomvuchlt elves and fairies have a dance off in square near the ride.
In other squares different acts. Snake charmers by the Arabia ride...

I'm tempted by new year, what actually happened?

From what I remember (was a couple of years ago) there was fireworks and hot toddy shacks. Lots of twinkly lights. It was just him and girlfriend, I’ll have to find him and ask him again because I just can’t remember!

He said it was bloody cold I do remember that!

Sorry to also jump on this thread. Which airport is closest and do you just get a taxi transfer / bus / hire a car? Thanks!

We flew into Amsterdam and got a hire car (from Sixt. It was great but bloody hell they don’t half spam you with emails!).

Rotterdam is about the same distance away, I’d fly into there if the times were better. It wasn’t much fun having to get up so early for such a short flight!

Driving there is totally fine, the roads are easy to navigate and it’s not far either. There is a train plus shuttle service I believe though.

Thanks. We've driven to Denmark from Calais before, so driven though Holland. My husband doesnt mind driving in Europe but not sure I could cope with the children in the car for such a long journey, they complain when we go anywhere further than an hour away!!

What sort of kids ages is it suitable for would you say?
It looks like so much fun!

We are planning a visit in the last week of August (just as a day trip). As many of the Dutch schools are back we were planning on going midweek when it'll be quieter but should we go at the weekend instead for longer hours / more entertainment?

It’s a balancing act @TattiePants - go mid-week but have to leave when it closes at 5 (I think) or go at the weekend when it’s more expensive plus busier? Not sure what I’d suggest. You could get round in a day if you’re planning to get there early - we went the last week in August and aside from one day when it was so hot the only queue was for the water rapids type ride, we mainly didn’t queue for longer than ten minutes.

@EscapeTheCastle ours were 4 and 7 when we went, they loved it. There’s a good range of rides for smaller and larger kids, so tbh you’ll be ok no matter how old they are. There’s a lot of smaller rides available throughout the park.

Thanks Diana, I've just checked and it's open 10am - 8pm that week so I think we'll stick to mid week and fewer people!