Tag Archives: laaf village

Construction Taking Place in the Laaf Village

28 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by in All Updates and News, Laaf, Updates from 2021

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You may have noticed if you visit the site regularly, that I love a bit of Laaf.

Laaf news is thin on the ground, as nothing new is really added to the village and in general, this part of the park has remained the same for many many years (there’s no Winter Olympics here during Winter Efteling anymore). So although not the most exciting addition to the village, but a nice refresh nonetheless, Lal’s Brouwhuys is receiving a new tunnel entrance. If you can think back to your last visit to the Laaf brewery, you may remember an enclosed tunnel that leads you inside.

The current tunnel

According to Efteling, this tunnel has, with age, succumbed to birds plucking at the reeds on the roof, and the rain has caused the walls to become damp and therefore start to crumble. Of course, Efteling are very good at looking after what they have, and on this occasion have decided to replace the tunnel, which will now be almost completely open, and will also be given a new wooden roof. This will allow a new view on one side of the tunnel, of the sleeping Laaf outside and the waterwheel. Here’s a photo of the current state of the tunnel, where you can see how it is going to look once it is completely finished:

Photo from the Efteling blog

Any work on the Laaf village gets 2 big thumbs up from me!

New Laaf Attraction: Laafs Shooting out of the Ground?!

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in All Updates and News, Laaf, Updates from 2013

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Last year Efteling announced that the Laaf village was going to receive a bit of a refresh with some new characters coming into play there, called the Lummels.  While the Laaf village would not be changed, these new characters were to inspire new merchandise, a T.V series, and a new attraction on the land alongside the existing village.

Now, it has been unofficially reported by a number of sites that the new attraction is to be two free-fall towers that will be partially built into the ground.  Charles Willemen is the chief designer of the ride, who previously worked on  the Flying Dutchman, and he plans for this new attraction to be partially built inside a cave, which stays within the theming of the Laaf village.  If everything goes to plan and these rumours are true, the ride should be opening in 2014.

Our thoughts are not too positive on this one, although we do have faith in Efteling of course!  Free-fall towers seem a bit extreme though, we think, for the subject matter.  As stated in the story of the Laaf folk:

‘They had tunnelled below a place called the Efteling in the Netherlands. The Efteling is one of Europe’s oldest and most attractive theme parks. The Laafs decided to investigate the source of the music and made their tunnel to the surface.  When they saw the beauty and the colours of the Efteling, the Laafs knew they had finally found a place where they could be happy again‘

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This would suggest that they climbed out of their tunnel and took up residence in Efteling, not that they came shooting out of the ground like they had a firework stuck up their…yeah, you get what we mean…The Laaf people are a peaceful breed, so we can’t quite fathom the logic about creating two free-falling towers there, but maybe it will work!  We live in hope.

For more info, check out parkwijzer.nl and loopings.nl

Happy International Women’s Day!

08 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in All Updates and News, Laaf, Updates from 2013

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There are a few ‘leading ladies’ that stand out in Efteling, but none more than Laaf Lot, who runs the Kraamhuys in the Laaf Village.  ‘Kraamhuys’ literally translates as ‘Maternity House’!  Here, she looks after many Laaf babies, while her other half snoozes in the chair beside her.  We still suspect that he may have had one too many Laaf beers!

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Looking to adopt a Laaf?

08 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in All Updates and News, Laaf, Products/Souvenirs, Updates from 2012

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I get a lot of comments here on the site and also over at the Efteling UK Facebook page asking where Laafs can be purchased.  The sad fact of the matter is, they are no longer in production, and haven’t been for quite a few years now.  Unsure of what a ‘Laaf’ is?  Click on the ‘People of Laaf’ page along the top of the screen.  In short, a Laaf is a glorified garden gnome, however there are also household Laafs who, of course, live indoors.  There is a Laaf village in Efteling where the Laafs reside.

Laafs used to be available for adoption in the Loetiek outside the Laaf village, however, now there is not a single Laaf to be had!  If you are looking for one, the best place to look is eBay or other online auction sites.  Efteling UK HQ has adopted some this way and they all seem pretty happy in their new residence!  You may also find the odd one lurking in your local garden centre, so keep your eyes peeled!

 

I have included a scan of one of the pages of an old Laaf leaflet, which show some house Laafs.  There is even one to hold your toothbrush; how helpful!