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Original poster

Holland & Efteling & autism

4 replies

changedmyname24 · 29/07/2024 09:02

We are going to Holland next week to De Schatberg campsite with Eurocamp. We plan to visit Efteling theme park while we are there.

Our family is made up of me, DH & 3 DSes (15, 13, 10). DS2 has autism, ADHD & epilepsy. The first two are very evident when you speak to him! The epilepsy is currently controlled by medication and is not photo sensitive.

I just wondered if anybody has any tips or insight into how the Dutch are with such disabilities (experience has taught us that not all countries are equal with this!)? Also any tips for Efteling in particular? I have got the app & downloaded a Facilities card for DS. I speak German & a few words of Dutch - although I know they tend to speak amazing English!

Dank u wel!

OP posts:
Sonolanona · 29/07/2024 09:10

We took our four, inc DS2 (autism and at when he was little, a wheelchair and AFOs on his legs) and it was fine.
Just don't do what we did and LOSE a child. The worst 35m of my life... somehow 6 yr old DS1 wandered away from our group of 7 kids and 3 adults..(he was a bit of a wanderer!) And not one adult approached him to ask if he was ok.
Maybe have a sunflower lanyard for him if he is ok with that?

DutchCowgirl · 29/07/2024 09:30

I am Dutch, been to Efteling many times. I think the Dutch are fine with autism , i have many friends with autistic kids and they all go to the Efteling. But ofcourse it depends highly on the needs of your kid what is best. If you need real quiet time for a while, go to the gondolas.(in a small boat through a parc) If you want to escape the crowds Land van Laaf is always nice.
If your kid likes rollercoasters, but he can’t do the real fast ones because of his condition, you can try Max & Moritz or the Piranha.

Original poster
changedmyname24 · 29/07/2024 09:37

Sonolanona · 29/07/2024 09:10

We took our four, inc DS2 (autism and at when he was little, a wheelchair and AFOs on his legs) and it was fine.
Just don't do what we did and LOSE a child. The worst 35m of my life... somehow 6 yr old DS1 wandered away from our group of 7 kids and 3 adults..(he was a bit of a wanderer!) And not one adult approached him to ask if he was ok.
Maybe have a sunflower lanyard for him if he is ok with that?

How scary for you 😱 Glad it all turned out ok. Thank you for the reassurance. We did have a sunflower lanyard but I don't know where it's gone, I will get another one!

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Original poster
changedmyname24 · 29/07/2024 09:39

DutchCowgirl · 29/07/2024 09:30

I am Dutch, been to Efteling many times. I think the Dutch are fine with autism , i have many friends with autistic kids and they all go to the Efteling. But ofcourse it depends highly on the needs of your kid what is best. If you need real quiet time for a while, go to the gondolas.(in a small boat through a parc) If you want to escape the crowds Land van Laaf is always nice.
If your kid likes rollercoasters, but he can’t do the real fast ones because of his condition, you can try Max & Moritz or the Piranha.

Thank you, that's good to know. DS doesn't really do quiet 🙈 so he'll be fine with crowds & rollercoasters. He is the biggest daredevil of my 3!

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