11 Saturday Jun 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Updates from 2016
The other day we were talking about Efteling’s new addition of a zoetrope in Station de Oost. Our good friend Eftelwesley has shared this video of the zoetrope; take a look!
It looks great! Slightly odd but hey, that’s how Efteling is, and that’s why we love it! 😀
02 Thursday Jun 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Updates from 2016
Tags
coca cola, efteling train station, efteling zoetrope, eftelinguk, monkeys, station de oost, zoetrope
You may have seen or heard of a zoetrope before. Zoetropes are a pre-film animation device, showing a sequence of drawings or photographs in a flip-book style, one after another. Here is an example of the kind of zoetrope most of us will have seen before:
There are also 3D zoetropes which create movement using models which are mounted onto a rotating base, spun, and then have a strobe light cast over them. This tricks your brain into seeing ‘real’ movement, pretty much like watching an animated film, for example. Here’s an example of that, with an explanation of how it works, by Woody:
Back to Efteling! About a week ago, a large mysterious box turned up in Station de Oost labelled ‘Luggage’, with a monkey peeking over the top of it. What was this puzzling box? Why was it there? Why were there Coca Cola signs on the exterior? Has Doctor Who part-exchanged his Tardis?
Photo from vijfzintuigen.nl
Well, apparently it is a zoetrope. Yesterday on Efteling’s Facebook account they said:
‘New in the Efteling: a zoetrope railway station in the east!
This Mini-attraction we have made together with Coca-Cola.’
That is probably a bad translation and there probably isn’t a railway station inside, but who knows?! Maybe monkeys and Coca Cola bottles are involved! I did hear that there are flashing lights inside, so presumably this is a 3D zoetrope.
No doubt a video will turn up soon, so keep an eye on our Facebook page where it will probably be shared!
22 Sunday May 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Laaf, Updates from 2016
Tags
efteling, efteling weather, eftelinguk, laaf, lach, laven, lavenlaar
…is better than a dry day anywhere else!
05 Thursday May 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Updates from 2016
I’ve been asked this question a few times recently, so I thought that it would be a great subject for a post!
Can you really get the most out of Efteling if you don’t speak Dutch?
Many of us English folk do not happen to speak Dutch, so it can be a little difficult at times to understand certain things on your visit to Efteling.
There are two main language barrier issues that you’ll come across at Efteling, from my experience. The first is understanding some of the attractions, and the second is ordering food (although there seems to be more English menus available upon request than there used to be).
As far as attractions are concerned, lets start with the Fairy Tale Forest (Sprookjesbos). Will you understand each tale by standing and listening to it? 
No. Most of the fairy tales you will be familiar with, such as Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel, but the ones you don’t know are impossible to understand if you know no Dutch. To help combat the language barrier, Efteling have provided decorative books next to each fairy tale, which tell the tale in 4 languages. Illustrated Efteling story books are also available at the gifts shops, making perfect reading for the nights you are staying at the park!
The two pre-shows in Villa Volta are totally in Dutch, so here’s your chance to practice your acting skills and pretend like you’re listening and taking in every word! There are boards outside on the wall however, explaining the story in multiple languages, so use your waiting time wisely by reading them.
When it comes to food, you want to know what you’re ordering, and as mentioned above, Efteling now has English menus available at most of their restaurants. Click here for Polle’s Keuken menu (2012). The vast majority of the staff members also speak English (and other languages) and are always happy to help a confused foreigner!
The park maps are multi-lingual, and the Efteling app and the website are now available totally in English too!
If you want to get a better understanding of some of the stories and attractions at Efteling before your visit, then make sure to check out this site where my friend Milena has translated all of the stories and many of the attractions at Efteling.
Although there is a lot of Dutch used in Efteling, many more attractions rely purely on visuals and music and the language barrier, when it does surface, certainly does not detract from this fabulous park!
24 Sunday Apr 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Sprookjesbos, Updates from 2016
Roodkapje is getting a makeover! Well, her Grandmother’s house is. 
The cottage which has stood in the forest since 1960 was constructed using wood, stone, cement and gauze, the same materials used to build the original Sleeping Beauty’s castle. In the 1980s, Sleeping Beauty’s castle was completely replaced, in the same way as Red Riding Hood’s cottage will be now. At the time it was reconstructed, Ton van de Ven took the opportunity to add the wicked fairy with her spinning wheel, as well as a few other details, thus ‘plussing’ the attraction.
The time has come for the Roodkapje building to comply with today’s standards, and it is being completely replaced using modern materials and techniques. Who knows, maybe there will be a little something added to it when it reopens?
Efteling has stated that fairy tales ‘remain the core’ of Efteling, and renovating these attractions which are already well established and loved shows the dedication that Efteling has to the oldest part of its park.
Hopefully Red Riding Hood is in a safe place while building work is carried out, since she is a favourite of local kidnappers!
24 Thursday Mar 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Sprookjesbos, Updates from 2016
Image copyright Efteling
Today was the day we’ve all been waiting for since…well, we’ve been waiting for what feels like a long time! Pinocchio finally opened to the public, yay! In true Efteling fashion, it’s looking good, and definitely has the ‘wow’ factor.
Located in the Fairy Tale Forest, Pinokkio can be found next to the Red Shoes fairy tale, where you could previously find Buccaneer Gijs. In fact, Buccaneer Gijs’ old home has been incorporated into this new story, housing the Fox and the Cat hiding in barrels, oh, and a seagull. To the right of these two characters you’ll find a very intimidating monster, Efteling’s version of Monstro!
Visitors are encouraged to make Monstro sneeze by pulling on a pole which has a feather attached to the other end. Then, he will open his mouth and you can see where Pinocchio and Gepetto are, since they are not anywhere to be seen in Gepetto’s workshop. Inside this ‘monster-fish’ you will find a very impressive animatronic of the hero of the story, Pinocchio. Behind him you will find a forced-perspective Gepetto, trapped inside the monster.
There is a warning for anyone brave enough to irritate the monster:
Maar pas op!
Anders word jij zijn volgende maaltijd…
(But beware!
Otherwise you become his next meal…)
The building itself fits in perfectly of course with all of the other Pieck-esque buildings in the forest, although it is a little brighter, with blue/green wooden sections which include the doors and windows. Inside Gepetto’s there is a lot going on! Mice have taken over and are playing with all of the toys. Pinocchio is one of those stories in the forest where you will likely see something new every time you visit.
Efteling, you’ve done it again, we love it! Although we weren’t sure about Pinokkio at first because he looked a little creepy, he definitely looks better now and fits perfectly into the forest 🙂
Psst…does the fox in the barrel remind anybody of anything? Maybe this?
Pinokkio video by looopings.nl
18 Friday Mar 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Sprookjesbos, Updates from 2016
Whilst looking through old photos of Efteling, you can really see how things have changed, even if it is just small changes. Check out Mr Long Neck from 20 years ago! He looks quite bleached, and is definitely being taken over by nature. The most recent picture is from the last Winter Efteling. There’s a bit of a difference!
03 Thursday Mar 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Updates from 2016
There’s not much to say about this other than it’s awesome, and it’s in English (yay!)
It’s very dramatic, but in a fun way, and definitely acts as a teaser to anyone who has never been to Efteling before.
Thoughts?
02 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Sprookjesbos, Updates from 2016
The Efteling website has been through a few reincarnations in its time, but this has to be the best one yet.
First off, it automatically took us to the English site, which it never did before unless we typed in co.uk or changed the language when we got there, hooray!
Images belong to Efteling
The coolest thing, however, is that the icons for each attraction or restaurant actually have a 3D effect to them, meaning that they move when you roll your cursor over them! Something else which admittedly could have been there before and we hadn’t noticed it, is a guide to the areas surrounding Efteling, in the event that you want to leave the park (really?!) and explore elsewhere. Another important feature is the calendar, which now shows busy days, and days when events are happening so that you can plan around them.
All in all, it’s the refresh that has been needed for a long time, and there doesn’t seem to be any of the really old site left, which can only be a good thing! Efteling are moving forward, as they even have a section on some pages for fan Instagram photos, and there’s also a list of WiFi locations for the park.
18 Thursday Feb 2016
Posted in All Updates and News, Updates from 2016
Next year, Efteling will be celebrating its 65th anniversary, even though it seems like no time at all since the 60th! For this occasion, they are asking guests to submit their memories of their trips to the park.
Click here to submit your memory.
Memories will be used in publications such as posters and, I believe, a 65th anniversary book commemorating this milestone. It is also very likely that the Efteling Museum will hold a 65th anniversary exhibition as they did during the 60th year.
So, get cracking! Send your memories to Efteling and maybe one of us UK fans will get something published by the park 😉
