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Monthly Archives: May 2014

Water Organ to Re-Open?

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by EftelingUK in All Updates and News, Updates from 2014

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dancing fountains, diorama, efteling renovation, eftelinguk, mermaid, sailor gijs, steam carousel, stoomcarrousel, water organ, waterorgel

Efteling’s Waterorgel is located in the Steam Carousel building.  The sign remains pointing to the entrance, but it hasn’t been operational for a good few years now.  If you’ve never seen it before, think of it as a mini Aquanura.  It is currently used as a television studio for Efteling Media, but according to looopings.nl, Efteling have been refurbishing the space, and hinting that it may re-open again (hopefully).  It seems that once they finish filming what they are currently filming in there, that they could then concentrate on renovating the organ.  Apparently, the organ is still there and intact, just boarded up for now.

The Waterorgel has been located in Efteling since 1966, so by today’s standards it is a little bit dated, however there does seem to be a lot of love for the organ from Efteling fans.

Mermaid on side of Steam Carousel

Mermaid on side of Steam Carousel

Waterorgel Foyer Entrance

Waterorgel Foyer Entrance

As you look at the Steam Carousel, you’ll see there are 3 entrances; the middle one takes you to the carousel, the right side takes you to the Diorama, and the left side takes you to the Water Organ.  Of course, without the organ there, there isn’t much reason to go through that entrance.

However, if you look up above and around the entrance, you will see many water-related images, mainly mermaids and fish; something you wouldn’t really understand the relevance of if you aren’t aware of the organ being there.  Inside at either side of the dancing fountains there were also two mermaid statues to be found.

 

Many years ago, before Efteling opened for Winter, many props and figures from around the park were taken into the Water Organ Hall for maintenance.  On this photo of Sailor Gijs undergoing maintenance from 1991 you can see a fish painted on the wall in the background, so no prizes as to guessing where he’s sitting!

Holle renovation

Johan van Gurp, 31 January 1991

Hopefully the organ will be renovated soon and opened up again to the public.  Better to have at least something in that side of the Carousel building than just an empty room, and the organ really does have its own charm!

 

 

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Summer Efteling Withdrawls (or, Reasons to visit Winter Efteling)

18 Sunday May 2014

Posted by EftelingUK in All Updates and News, Seasons, Updates from 2014

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best time to visit efteling, efteling, eftelinguk, seasons, summer efteling, winter efteling, wonder rides

KleineZeemeermin

Wonderrides.com

As the weather heats up, both in the U.K and in the Netherlands, you may find yourself gazing into space, remembering long Summer days in Efteling.  Water rides that cool you down, beautiful flowers everywhere, lovely shades of green on the trees and plants, and a visit to the Happiness Station for a refreshing ice cream.  However, maybe (like us) you won’t be visiting Efteling in the warmer months this year.  In that case, we all need a reminder of the great things that come to Efteling when the hot weather leaves.  The days are shorter and darker, but there are so many wonderful and different things to see if you’re visiting Efteling in the Winter!  With a little help from our friends at Wonderrides.com (see below for images link), here is why Efteling is a great place to visit even in the colder parts of the year:

  • They put up an Ice Palace (that’s a skating rink to us commoners.)
  • Cross-country skiing (so you don’t have to visit a ski resort.)
  • A Bavarian Market (because sausages and mulled wine really do warm you up.)
  • Winter Illusions at Villa Volta, Spookslot and the Flying Dutchman.
  • Fairy Tales in their special Winter clothes (it’s about time that mermaid put some clothes on.)
  • Camp fires.  All over the place, to keep you toasty.
  • You get to see things in the dark.  Aquanura for one, but attractions like Raveleijn and the entire Fairy Tale forest are very atmospheric in the dark when they’re lit up.  Something you don’t get to experience too much of if you’re visiting when the nights are lighter.

In summary: there’s never a bad time to visit Efteling!

Click here for more Winter Efteling photos at Wonderrides.com

 

 

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Holle Bolle Gijs Promotes Clean Parks

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by EftelingUK in All Updates and News, Updates from 2014

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clean parks, efteling, holle bolle gijs

Holle Bolle Gijs has been helping to keep Efteling looking clean for decades, so it is little wonder that he has been chosen to promote clean and tidy parks all over the Netherlands.  He will visit a total of 10 parks in the Netherlands, and you can vote for where you would like him to visit.  The visits start on May 19th, but Holle Bolle Gijs has already turned up in Vondelpark in Amsterdam yesterday.  There are a number of parks to choose from, and obviously this is aimed at our Dutch friends, but anyone can vote!  

CleanparkGo to http://www.supportervanschoon.nl/parken to vote.

 

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Park of Wonders; an Efteling Poem

07 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by EftelingUK in All Updates and News, Updates from 2014

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efteling, efteling poem, eftelinguk, poetry

We were recently sent an Efteling-related poem by Simon Mack.  It is all about a day out to Efteling 🙂

 

‘Park of Wonders’

Our family merry travelled to gentle lands of the low

Our father told us stories of place known long ago

As a child he had gone there and had splendid times

And now it was our turn in his footsteps to climb.

 

Night’s dream filled with stories of a land of great wonders

Our hearts lifted lightly and no man could down plunder

We’d follow the routes we had heard in Dad’s stories

And descend from imagination unto realities glory.

 

The gateway to adventure rose high in spring skies

Thatched spires of Dad’s fond tales now real to our eyes

We’d waited for this day since we were so small

At last now upon us we’d have quite a ball.

 

A fine ornate pathway winding onward toward fun

No sleep at all last night this moments loop on re-run

A forest route’s meander our first new encounter

Enchantment of stories amidst carpets of flowers.

 

This wood filled with jewels from olden fairy tales

Red Riding hood Sleeping beauty and much more in detail

Tom Thumb and the Giant asleep in his boots

Rapunzel’s high tower her hair down to its roots.

The forest of stories gave way to a square

Through shimmer of sunlight a palace stood there

A tune of old fairgrounds came out from the door

An olden classic carousel our ride we adored.

 

A jaunty trot onward to a towering bird

Dark ride on a coaster wild screams could be heard

A visit to Jokie and his wide global journey

A carnival of adventure from the arctic to Germany.

 

High up on Pagoda a view that went on forever

A drive in vintage cars we might have dreamed never

A vast swing of high reaches on ship swirling wild

In our father’s happy gaze memories of a child.

 

Flying Dutchman a ghost ship on dark water’s ride

Watery climb skyward into daylight rapid glide

A trip on the Python double loop and corkscrew

We whoop in abandon round and round we fast flew.

 

All that fun made us hungry local snacks to embrace

Kroket and Frites so yummy not a morsel went waste

A trek to the Alpine on a four man Bob slide

Hurtling down smiling Dad our trusted guide.

 

A jaunt to the Far East the sights sounds and smells

A voyage through the Orient a White wizard casts spells

A perfumed aroma pierced through darkened scenes

Sailing past a Bazaar and the Sultan’s fine harem.

 

A mist of macabre wafted around castle

In darkness we enter among screams of a rascal

Dim lights scary noises spooky is this place

A ghostly rendition of night’s Black embrace.

 

Back in the deep forest lofty castle slept a beauty

We Passed Rumpelstiltskin ‘Hoopla!’ his main duty

Dad joyous to show us our next new encounter

A mystical Villa and tales of thieves’ devour.

 

In a spin we departed astounded by our tour

Before us floral entry where dreams realm long endured

A flight in gentle Worlds castles fairies and trolls

Past palaces space bound and flower pastures colours bold.

 

Our flight through dreams wonder a whimsical pleasure

Memories of adventures we’d forever treasure

Our Dad said to hurry we made reservation

To dine beside live show was our next invitation.

 

We ate feast fine handsome fit for best of Kings

Followed by live drama of birds horses and Dragon winged

The idyllic evening beauty of this place quite sublime

Our hearts and this wonderland forever be entwined.

 

We made our way weary toward spires of dreams end

Our Dad said just one detour if your legs will slow lend

A rest on a kind bench by lake in soft light’s reflect

Just there leap of water that we did not expect!

 

A regal presentation of watery splendour

Glowing lights water fountains amid music calm tender

Shooting high skyward a feast for the eyes

A water spectacular our final day’s prize.

 

Arms round us our father asked if we’d had fun

Our day of his memories and much more we had done

We’d dreamed of this visit from beyond our recall

A day in this fine place far surpassed sleep’s enthrall.

 

Mum took us inside spires to find a small token

A keepsake to look at and recall joy’s emotion

So tired in elation we left for the night

Dad beckoned us over to hotel in moonlight.

 

4 spires that loomed friendly in bright coloured lights

Inside our room fashioned from our day’s tempting sights

Wonderment continued until our deep sleep

Dad covered us over and took a quick peek.

 

And right there before him two kids slept with smiles

As wide as the ocean as broad as crocodiles

He wondered what we’d do when he told in the morning

Another day in wonderland was upon us now dawning!

 

Simon Mack ©2014

www.mackwords.co.uk 

 

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Skiing Woman in Efteling?

01 Thursday May 2014

Posted by EftelingUK in All Updates and News, Updates from 2014

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Ballonnenvrouwtje nordicwalkt, balloon seller, efteling, eftelist

We feel a little bit silly, in a way.  It’s not that we thought she actually was going to go skiing, but she looked ready for it.  For as long as we can remember, she’s never had balloons.  It’s only after reading on Eftelist that she used to be a ‘balloon seller’ that it all made sense!  With those sticks, we thought she was wanting to go skiing…

This woman actually has a story, just like everything else in Efteling.  Here’s the basics:

She was an old lady who liked to give away balloons to people for free because balloons made her happy, so she was trying to spread the joy herself.  But the people were too busy for balloons and were mean to her.  So she called her friend Jan the wind and he blew her all the way to the Efteling where her dress caught on Sleeping Beauty’s castle turret.  Some gnomes from the forest saw her and stood on each other’s shoulders to help her down.  She’s been there ever since!

From pinparade.nl

From pinparade.nl

If you look closely, she can also be found in Diorama (in miniature, of course).

From eftepedia.nl

From eftepedia.nl

So yes, Efteling, please do something with this poor old woman!  If not real balloons, maybe she could be given some pretend ones so that she at least feels useful! Oh, and maybe fix the cracks in her hands? Ouch!

SAM_2174

More information about the old woman can be found here.

With thanks to Milena.

 

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