Dutch fairytale theme park that’s an ‘alternative Disneyland’ opens new spinning dark ride in time for Halloween
A THEME park in Europe, which is often dubbed the “Dutch Disneyland” by visitors has launched a new dark ride.
Located in Kaatsheuvel in The Netherlands, Efteling features over 30 rides and attractions, including Danse Macabre, its latest ride.
The haunted ride officially opened to the public today to coincide with Halloween.
Part of a €35million (£29.2million) investment by Efteling, the new ride is located in Huyverwoud Forest – a new themed area in the park.
On board the eerie ride, park-goers will be seated on a large turntable, which is topped with six smaller turntables that can accommodate 108 visitors each time.
The large turntable will rise, fall, twist, turn and tilt like a spinning coin, before falling flat to mark the end of the ride, with its ride system thought to be a world-first.
These movements will be happening while a poem of the same name by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns plays in the background.
The ride, which has been two years in the making, will be able to accommodate 1,253 guests per hour.
Because of its spooky theme, only park-goers aged eight and over are advised to ride, with a minimum height of 1.2m also needed.
Danse Macabre is located inside Huyverwoud Forest, a new themed area.
The new zone forms the creepiest part of Efteling and is home to a mysterious herb garden, a cemetery and catering and retail buildings.
Designer Jeroen Verheij previously said: “The bizarre thing – and at the same time the beautiful thing – is that, as a designer, you are at the very beginning of inventing and sketching what we are showing here now.
“That means that I am actually in my own drawing now. I hope our guests will be overwhelmed by what they see when they soon enter this chapel. It is a hugely impressive space. This will be an unforgettable attraction.”
There are lots of other exciting rides and attractions at the theme park, including Baron 1898.
As one of the park’s most adrenaline-inducing rides, Baron 1898 features a 120ft free-fall drop into a mineshaft that travels at 55mph.
Python, another ride at the theme park, features a double loop and corkscrew.
The theme park is also home to the world’s largest swinging ship, a monorail and a 100-year-old steam carousel.
And double-track rollercoaster Joris en de Draak lets passengers speed past a 39ft fire-breathing dragon.
Efteling opened in 1952 and remains popular to this day, with some visitors saying it’s better than Disneyland.
Visitors say Efteling in Kaatsheuvel is just as enchanting as the Disney park, with storybook names like Cinderella and Tom Thumb roaming around in place of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Last year, TikTok user Ben Ride posted a video stating he thought Efteling was better than Disneyland Paris.
It was flooded with comments from people who couldn’t agree with him more, with one person writing: “Efteling is way better than Disney, and I am a fan of Disney.”
Another wrote: “I prefer Efteling. Disneyland does not have intense attractions.”
Day tickets for Efteling for anyone over the age of four range from €38 (£31.80) to €51 (£42.60), depending on the day of visit.
Kids under three go free, with discounts for school trips and larger groups.
To get to the park, Brits can hop on a Eurostar service from London St Pancras, and then drive an hour from Amsterdam.
Otherwise flights to Eindhoven are around £14 with Ryanair, with the park around 30 minutes by car.
The fairytale theme park hopes to expand its offering even more in 2025 with the opening of a new “royal gazebo”.
Earlier this year, a new fairytale suite opened at the theme park’s hotel.
Sleeping up to five people, the Droomvlucht Suite has a “secret” sleeping area as well as a huge four poster bed.
What is it like to visit Efteling?
The Sun’s Catherine Bennion-Pedley visited last year – here’s what she thought of it.
One of our fave rides was Symbolica.
Each carriage can choose the theme of their adventure – music, hero or treasures, with interactive challenges to match – but you all join the magical banquet hall at the end, where flamboyantly dressed characters waltz around you.
Meanwhile, over at the ornate 100-year-old Stoomcarrousel, you can hop on a pig instead of a horse if you fancy.
Later, slide down a polar bear in Fabula – another perfect rainy-afternoon hideout.
Days at Efteling come to a close with the music, light and fire show around the lake.
From there it’s a 15-minute wander to the Loonsche Land Hotel.
Here, kids can borrow an owl teddy for a sleepover and write in its diary.
Come morning, breakfast is a cute spread with ceramic flowerpots to fill up with granola and yoghurt, plus a wooden toy corner.
We’ve found an affordable theme park which you can get to by train from the UK, which recently revealed it’s new dinosaur themed ride.
And here’s the tiny theme park in the middle of a city which was said to have inspired Disneyland.