History-
In 1950, Efteling Nature Park Foundation (Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling) was founded by the mayor of Loon op Zand, R.J. van der Heijden, filmmaker Peter Reijnders, and designer artist Anton Pieck (1895-1987). The foundation was named after the 16th-century farm Ersteling.
Efteling officially opened on May 31, 1952, when the Fairy Tale Forest (het Sprookjesbos), designed by the famous Dutch illustrator Anton Pieck, was opened to the public. Initially, the Fairy Tale Forest was home to some ten different fairy tales, all of them brought to life using original drawings by Anton Pieck alongside ingenious mechanics and lighting and sound effects designed by the Dutch filmmaker Peter Reijnders. The life-size dioramas, displayed together in an atmospheric forest, were an enormous success. In 1952 alone, Efteling welcomed 240,000 visitors.
Since 1978, the park has been expanded and grown to become one of the most popular theme parks in the world. The Efteling Resort now offers the original theme park, a hotel, a theatre, a golf course, and a holiday village. It is still owned by the Efteling Nature Park Foundation.
The Dutch climate and the integral role of natural greenery in the park's appearance and theme once prevented it from remaining open year-round. Efteling's operating season was once limited to April - October, but the park's management, in order to make the park more profitable, began experimenting with 'Winter Efteling' in 1999 (see index below for attractions closed during "Winter Efteling"). The seasonal event, which features holiday displays and Christmas lights, has grown increasingly popular in the 2000s and draws thousands of visitors annually.
In 2010, Efteling announced plans to remain open year round. From November through approximately February, the 'Winter Efteling' theme remains in place. However, some of the regular rides are either closed (like Wild Water Ride Piraña) or temporarily closed for maintenance (like The Flying Dutchman) during this period.
Gisela Williams, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, wrote a review of the park in early 2014. Williams praised Efteling but criticized an attraction called Monsieur Cannibale for containing racist depictions of Africans. Her review was later mentioned in De Telegraaf, a daily newspaper in the Netherlands, and drew several angry comments from its readership. Williams also received her first death threat for her comments about the controversial attraction.
Design-
The success of Efteling has been attributed largely to its high-quality ride designs and architecture, in addition to its pleasant greenery and gardening. The park, under the aegis of its creative directors, has always had high standards. When Anton Pieck was asked to design the initial fairy tales for the Efteling, he made sure the park would live up to his personal high standards. There would be no use of cheap building materials, plastic or concrete. Pieck's illustration style, somewhat grim and dark but yet also romantic and nostalgic, was the thematic base on which most future expansions were built.
Pieck worked for Efteling until the mid-1970s, when his position as chief designer was passed on to the younger Ton van de Ven. Van de Ven had already been working for Efteling for several years and Pieck was very pleased with his work. The Haunted Castle (het Spookslot), which opened in 1978 as the park's first new large attraction, was Efteling's first to be designed entirely by Van de Ven (although he used some ideas from joint brainstorming sessions with Pieck). Later, he designed several more rides and new fairy tales, leading him to be considered by some as the world's best 'imagineer' after Disney.
Van de Ven continued his work until 2002, when he retired. A new team of imagineers is currently working on new Efteling attractions.
Divisions-
The Efteling resort now comprises several divisions: the theme park (1952), the four-star Efteling Hotel (1992), the 18-hole golf course (1995), Efteling Theatre (2002), and a holiday park with bungalows [Efteling Bosrijk](2009). Efteling Bosrijk will be adding another 400 beds in 2015. The theatre, which was once used for park shows, is one of the 5 biggest theatres in The Netherlands and can house big theatre productions, which will not be included in park admissions. Besides using it as a home base for shows/musicals created by the Efteling itself (like "Droomvlucht" e.o.)it also lends itself out for other big productions, events and business events. The hotel was operated by Golden Tulip for several years, but Efteling decided recently to manage it independently. All divisions are now profitable, although it took the golf course several years to break even. The divisions are each contained in commercial corporations, but all shares are still held by the non-profit Efteling Nature Park Foundation (Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling).
Long time rumours are that the Efteling is wanting to expand her entertainment area for multi-day-visitors with expending "Uitrijk" ,which now only contains the theatre, in order to attract 5 million visitors a year bij 2020.
The Park-
Efteling currently covers approximately 160 acres (650,000 m²). This area has changed only marginally over the course of its history. However, the park's foundation owns a much larger area of land, covered mostly with young forest, some grassland, roads, and an 18-hole golf course.
The park is divided into four themed areas or 'realms'. 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 infrastructure in the late 1990s (adding the Pardoes Promenade and a central hub called Efteling Brink), it also changed the areas' names. North was changed to Reizenrijk (Travel Realm), West became Marerijk (Fairy Realm), East became Ruigrijk (Rough Realm), and South became Anderrijk (Other Realm).
Although the park was not built with these divisions in mind and the names may seem cryptic, they do make sense. Perhaps the area most suited to its name isRuigrijk, where most fast rides like the double-loop roller coaster Python (constructed in 1981) are located. Marerijk is the home to the Fairy Tale Forest and the Fairies of the Droomvlucht, Anderrijk has some rides that are inspired by non-Western cultures (e.g. Fata Morgana and Piraña), while Reizenrijk has the Carnaval Festival ride, which travels through several different 'countries'.
Efteling was built in a rather rural area, with lots of pine trees, giving it a 'nature park' feeling. Together with its large ponds and gardens, its abundant green space is rather unusual among the world's leading theme parks.
Economy & Governance-
The Efteling is a private company limited by shares. The Efteling Nature Park Foundation (Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling) is the only shareholder. The foundation was founded in 1950 by R.J.Th. van der Heijden, Peter Reijnders, and Anton Pieck. The company is led by two directors. They manage four sections: the theme park, the Efteling Hotel, the Efteling Golf course and the Efteling Theatre.
Since April 17, 2014, the company's CEO has been Fons Jurgens.
In the high season, Efteling employs 2,500 workers. In 2000, the number was 1670, of which 400 had a permanent contract (24%), 450 were seasonal employees (27%) and 820 had temp jobs (49%).
Efteling welcomed 3,240,000 visitors in 2007, making it the most popular theme park in the Netherlands. In 2009, the park's attendance surpassed 4,000,000 visitors and in 2013 roughly 4.200.000 visitors went to the park, making it the most popular tourist daytrip destination in all categories.
In its opening year (1952), the park had 222,941 visitors.
Most of the visitors are Dutch. 94% of the Dutch population has visited the park. 16% of visitors live in areas like Flanders(Belgium), Westphalia (Germany) and Southern England (UK).[
The Disney Connection-
Efteling has a good relationship with the Disney theme parks. Disneyland Parisconsulted Efteling during its construction and design phase, in order to adapt the American park to European tastes. As a token of appreciation, the Disney Company gave Efteling a small statue. Ton van de Ven, who designed many of Efteling's attractions, is also a good friend of Disney's Tony Baxter (senior vice president ofWalt Disney Imagineering). The relationship between the two parks was emphasized when Efteling won the 2004 Thea Classic Award, the highest honour awarded by theThemed Entertainment Association: Efteling had, as it turned out, been nominated by Tony Baxter.
There is also a popular legend that further links Disney and Efteling. For years, rumors have circulated that Walt Disney derived his inspiration for Disneyland (which opened in 1955), from Efteling (which opened in 1952). According to the legend, in the early 1950s, Walt Disney traveled to Europe a few times and visited several tourist attractions. Reportedly, a brochure from the IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, even states that Disney "spent a great deal of time studying Pieck's work at Eftling [sic] before beginning his own park." However, the rumour was later discredited by Efteling. An off-hand remark by a PR person for Efteling during a presentation for a group of reporters further extend the legend's longevity. It's likely that Disney never actually visited Efteling, though he did visit Madurodam and Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. The latter actually did provide some inspiration for Disneyland.
Python-
Python is a double-loop Corkscrew roller coaster in the Efteling amusement park in the Netherlands. When it started operation, it was the largest steel roller coaster on the European mainland.
With Python, Efteling started the implementation of a new strategy: development from a fairy-tale forest into an all-round amusement park. This change led to many problems with the local community. Environmentaliststried to get the building permit withdrawn, and the park's neighbors feared more problems arising from growing visitor numbers. Because of the likely noise pollution, the highest court of public justice ordered the construction to be stopped. After some time, construction could recommence, but legal problems continued for several more years.
In 1995, when operating hours were extended until 10 pm, the coaster's 45-decibel noise level became a problem once more. Plans were submitted to the local municipality, describing an extension and complete renovation of the coaster, which would reduce the noise substantially. Due to the high cost, the funds were allocated to the construction of a new enclosed (to reduce noise problems for the park's surroundings) roller coaster, Bird Rok.
Efteling hoped to get a night license for Python with some small renovations (new trains and a chain lift), but only with a change in the permit could Python remain open until 10 pm.
In 2005 the trains were replaced by Kumbak Coasters designed by Karel Willemen and in December 2011 with Vekoma MK1212 trains.
Pagoda-
The Pagoda, developed by Intamin as a flying island, is described by Efteling as a "flying temple".
It consists of a 155 tons weighing cabin and a 225 tonhydraulic arm which pivots it from the ground up to a height of 60 metres.
The counterweight of 340 tons sinks 30 metres into the ground.
To maintain the balance of the cabin itself the weight of the 100 visitors is distributed over its two sides.
The rotating cabin has a 15 metre high pagoda on top of it.
Etymology studies indicated that the word pagodameans tomb in Thai . Preoccupied with upsetting a whole nation, as with Fata Morgana, Efteling choose the Dutch word "pagode" as the ride name.
Ride length: 4 minutes
Ride capacity: 1500 passengers/ hour
Cost: € 3.6 million.
In order to get the wooden coaster open before the opening of Disneyland Paris, the total project was completed in 7 months. Curtis D. Summersdesigned the ride and Charles Dinn was contracted to build it; Dinn also provided the wood, Southern Yellow Pine from the United States. During construction, workers from the Dinn Corp. went on strike and the project was taken over and completed by Intamin.
The ride had two trains with five cars per train. Each car had a capacity of four passengers, two per row. At the time of opening it was the only wooden roller coaster in the Netherlands.
After leaving the station the train made a 180 degrees turn to be transported by the chain lift to a height of 20 meters. The train then fell slowly into a drop, after which a 220 degrees right-hand turnaround followed, then another drop, followed by a double-up. Next was a 220 degrees turn left-hand turnaround, which was followed by a double-down. A 180 degrees left-hand turnaround took the train into the wooden ride construction. A small climb back up followed, and then down again into one bunny hill, after which the train re-entered the station.
In total there were 4 curves, 9 inclinations and 8 descents.
Willem van der Decken, a captain of the Dutch eastindian corporation VOC, the first limited company, is a wealthy trader in command of the fastest ship of the VOC, named the "Hollander" (Dutchman). But greed takes control of him and secretly he starts practicing piracy. He recruits his crew from orphanages.
On Easter 1678, despite a heavy storm blowing into port, he sets sail for the Dutch East Indies. When all despair for this lack of fear for God, he proclaims: "I will sail, storm or not, Easter or not, prohibited or not. I will sail, even into eternity!" (old Dutch: "Ik zal vaeren, storm of gheen storm, Paesen of gheen Paesen, verbod of gheen verbod. Ik zal vaeren, al is het tot in den eeuwigheid!").
Against the wind he sailed toward damnation. The house of Van der Decken is part of the scenery for the queue line. After walking through this abandoned house the queue continues down into so-called 'smugglers' tunnels', where Van der Decken's treasure can be seen hidden behind a small door. The tunnel ends in the cellar of a pub in 17th century style. In the harbor, under a dark clouded sky the coaster ride begins. The 14- person barge goes into open sea where it meets a holographic ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman, and dives under its bow into the Underworld. The barge is then towed to a height of 22,5 meters. Here, it halts, and a ghostly voice is heard stating: "You shall sail until the end of time!" (Old Dutch: "Gij zult vaeren, tot het einde der tijden!") Doors open and the barge shoots in a curved declination through a tunnel. After this some airtime in a bunnyhop and an 85 degree horseshoe. A steep fall and a left curve bring the barge back into the water. A special technique allows for variation in the size of the “splash”, thus preparing the ride for winter opening .
