I’m in Efteling now and it’s amazing

[Ofitck]

I would never have heard about this place if it wasn’t for mumsnet but I think this is going to be our best holiday yet!

After some disastrous city breaks with bored and overtired DC I thought that this holiday (for them) would be a bit rubbish for us. Couldn’t have been more wrong!

We’re staying in Bosrijk in a woodland house. DD1 pretty much slept through last night for the first time EVER. DS5 is overcome with wonder and fell in love with the sandman. Proclaimed yesterday his “favourite day.”

Both so tired that they went to sleep easily so DH and I could actually enjoy a glass of wine and a spot of crochet on the sofa!

Thank you Efteling-going-mnetters

Awesome! I LOVED this place when I was a kid, can't wait to take DS there when he's old enough.

It's amazing isn't it.
Just so beautiful and has oodles of atmosphere. Uk people can't get passed Disney. I only found efteling through mn too. So thrilled I did. I also fell in love with it and even dh got carried away.
So much to do in day time when rides are busy, so many play areas.

It's so lovely isn't it?
The app is good, it gives you real time queue times.

We liked the singing toadstools, they are very silly!

The kids lunch box is the best value food in the park imo.

We really enjoyed it when we went and that was with 2 older teens too. It's lovely there.

Yay, I'm an emigre to the Netherlands and am very lucky to live just down the road from De Efteling. Love all the MN love it gets! It's truly magical in a much less commercial way than Disney, and tons cheaper. It's lovely in the winter too - they have an ice rink, and decorate everything with icicles and snow, and have open fires and stuff.

I promise I don't work for them (I wish!)

I so nearly booked Disney, we will probably do it when they’re older as it’s conveniently located for visiting family. But Efteling is just enchanting!

And Bosrijk in itself would be enough, I’m almost tempted to not even go into the park today!

Enjoy your holiday .. we are thinking of going with our 4 and 5 year old soon

Did you fly or drive?

We drove from Dunkirk (ferry), I’m a really bad flier

The sandman is hilarious. I went with 8 adults (long story) and he insisted on coming into the lodge and turning down the lights and singing us all a lullaby.

Would it suit teenagers? Or is it more for younger children!

You lucky thing! We were there last November and adored it. Rubymay, teenagers would like it too, there are a few more extreme rides and the general atmosphere would make anyone happy!

What age do you think it’s best for?

Ye Gods, this almost makes me homesick for the Low Lands!!

holidaylady I think most Dutch parents have a photograph of their children hovering over the singing toadstools with eyes filled with wonder haha!

I took my teens last year and they absolutely loved it 😊

@N0ne, would you happen to know if it’s a popular destination for autumn break? I read that the south region schools have their term break the week before the U.K. but the central and north have it the same time as us.

I used to go to De Efteling as a child and am also interested to know if it's good for (young) teens; my ds isn't a big roller-coaster goer, but it sounds like a day trip might be worthwhile.

We heard about it from Maddie moate's YouTube channel.

We let our dd choose from paid Disney or efteling. Well, did Disney have a donkey that projectile poos gold coins? No it does not. Efteling and it's rather unique donkey won!

And the little pull along chair things are great! Very well designed as so light to pull. We did over 20,000 steps a day, which was too much for our 5yo.

Paris Disney not paid Disney sorry

There are quite a few rollercoasters so would be ok for teens I reckon. Depends how 'kevinny' they are.

I really want to take DS... is 2 too little do you think?

2yo would love it, but not sure how much they would remember!
It is very magical for the little ones.

We have young teens/tweens and they love it. We go every year during the summer half term week. Very little queueing.

It is lovely - however I will say that we visited Parc Asterix last month and it is without a doubt the best theme park for roller coasters we've ever been to.
Both Efteling and PA are overlooked because of Disneyland...no contest in our house anymore!

Efteling is magical. We took our Dc last Easter. 2 yo surprised us by loving the rides! 5yo has been doing fairy tales at school so recognised a lot of the characters and both enjoyed every minute. We will definitely return!

Do you think a 7 and 10 year old would like it?