Dive coasterBaron 1898
A dive coaster that drops you 37.5 metres into a mineshaft at 90 km/h. There is a single rider queue.
Overview
Efteling sits in Kaatsheuvel in North Brabant, between Tilburg and ’s-Hertogenbosch. It opened as a fairy-tale park, and the Fairy Tale Forest is still the heart of it: walk-through scenes from fairy tales, many with moving figures.
Around that are the rides that make it a full day out: a dive coaster, two classic roller coasters, a water coaster, a madhouse and several dark rides. The mix means one group can include a toddler, a teenager and grandparents, and each finds something to do. The evening water show Aquanura and the themed hotels make a two-day stay easy.
Tickets and prices 2026
| Day ticket, age 4 and up | €40 to €56, depending on the day. The five price levels are €40, €47, €51, €54 and €56. |
|---|---|
| Children up to and including 3 | Free, with a valid ID. |
| Flexible ticket | €56, valid for one year, no fixed date. |
| Parking | €15 per car per day. Guests of the Efteling hotels park free in their own car park. |
| Changing the date | Allowed within one year of purchase through your Efteling account. If the new day costs more, you pay the difference. |
| Visitors with a disability | €2 discount for the visitor and up to three companions, with a facilities card. |
Prices from efteling.com, checked 31 October 2026. The exact price of a day is shown in the ticket calendar when you order.
The cheapest dates are quiet weekdays outside Dutch, Belgian and German school holidays. The €16 gap between the lowest and highest price is the easiest saving you will find, so look at the calendar before choosing a day.
Best time to go and opening hours
Efteling is open every day of the year. The hours change by day and season, so check the official opening hours calendar for your date.
- Quietest: weekdays in term time, outside school holidays and the weeks around long weekends.
- Busiest: Dutch, Belgian and German school holidays, Saturdays, and public holidays.
- Summer: longer opening hours and evening tickets are offered in summer. Evening tickets let you stay on for the Aquanura water show.
- Winter Efteling: the park stays open in winter with lights, a winter garden and an ice rink. Winter Efteling 2025/26 ran from 10 November 2025 to 1 February 2026, with the park open until 18:00 and until 20:00 in the Christmas break. The 2026/27 dates are on the official calendar.
What is new
Hooghmoed Opened 2026A family free-fall tower next to the dive coaster Baron 1898. It opened on 1 May 2026 and is themed around the chimney sweeps from the Baron story.
Ravenring 1 December 2026A flight-themed attraction in the new Raveleijn area, which opens on 1 December 2026.
The Fairytale Library 2027The 32nd fairy tale in the Fairy Tale Forest, where the area around the Chinese Nightingale is being redone.
Missie Luminar 2029Efteling’s first suspended launch coaster, announced for 2029.
MagicalunaA family illusion show in the Efteling Theater, recommended from age 6.
Free self-driving busLine 7 runs free, scheduled rides from the bus station to the Wonder Hotel, Villa Pardoes, Loonsche Land and Bosrijk.
From the Efteling news page, checked 31 October 2026. Opening dates can move, so check before you plan a trip around a new ride.
Rides and areas worth your time
The park mixes real thrill rides with soft dark rides and a walk-through forest, so one group can split up and still meet for lunch. These are the ones worth your time.
Dive coaster
Steel coasterPython
A steel roller coaster with a double loop and a corkscrew. There is a single rider queue.
Wooden coasterJoris en de Draak
A double-track wooden racing coaster themed on the hunt for a dragon. Children from 1.10 m ride with someone aged 16 or older.
Water coasterDe Vliegende Hollander
A water coaster built around the legend of the ghost ship with blood-red sails.
Indoor coasterVogel Rok
A high-speed roller coaster in the dark, themed on the giant bird from the Sindbad stories, in the Reizenrijk area.
Dark rideSymbolica
An indoor family ride through a fantasy palace, guided by the jester Pardoes. There is a single rider queue.
Boat rideFata Morgana
An indoor boat ride through a forbidden Eastern city, open to everyone.
River rapidsPiraña
A 600-metre wild-water ride in round boats past waterfalls and totem poles. You may get soaked.
Walk-throughFairy Tale Forest
A walk from fairy tale to fairy tale, with gnomes, princesses, enchanted swans and Long Neck peeking through the trees.
Ride details from the official attraction pages on efteling.com, checked 31 October 2026. Rides have height and age limits and can close for maintenance. The Efteling app shows the current wait times and closures on the day.
Getting there
| Address | Europalaan 1, 5171 KW Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands |
|---|---|
| By car | Take the A59 and leave at Waalwijk/Kaatsheuvel (N261), then follow the Efteling signs. From Antwerp, follow the A16/E19 towards Breda, then the A58 and A27, and join the A59. From Eindhoven, take the A58 towards Tilburg and then the A65. |
| Rough drive times | Antwerp about 1 hour 15 minutes, Rotterdam about 1 hour, Amsterdam about 1 hour 15 minutes, Brussels about 2 hours, without traffic. |
| By train and bus | You can reach Efteling by train and bus from anywhere in the Netherlands and Belgium. Use the journey planner 9292.nl for the exact connection on your day. |
| Nearest airports | Eindhoven, Rotterdam The Hague and Amsterdam Schiphol, each roughly 45 to 75 minutes by car. |
| Parking | €15 per car per day. Hotel guests park free in the hotel car park. |
Address and routes from efteling.com. Drive times are rough estimates, check your route before you leave.
Where to stay
Efteling runs its own accommodation on the resort: the Efteling Hotel, the Wonder Hotel, the Loonsche Land holiday park and the Bosrijk bungalow park. Hotel guests park free in the hotel car park, and the free self-driving bus line 7 links the hotels to the park area.
For a cheaper base, look at Tilburg, Breda or ’s-Hertogenbosch, all about 20 to 30 minutes by car. If you come from Belgium or the south of the Netherlands, a day trip is easy and you can skip the hotel.
Tips for your day
- Buy a dated ticket online and pick the lowest price level the calendar offers.
- Arrive at opening. Ride Baron 1898 and Python first, then go to the Fairy Tale Forest after midday.
- Download the Efteling app on the way for wait times and ride closures.
- Rain is not a disaster: Symbolica, Droomvlucht, Fata Morgana and several other attractions are indoors.
- Check the height limit of each ride on the day if you travel with children.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Efteling tickets in 2026?
A day ticket for visitors aged 4 and up costs between €40 and €56 in 2026, depending on the day. Children up to and including 3 years enter free. Parking is €15 per car.
Is Efteling open in winter?
Yes, Efteling is open all year. Winter Efteling adds lights, a winter garden and an ice rink. The 2025/26 season ran from 10 November 2025 to 1 February 2026, and the dates for 2026/27 are on the official opening hours calendar.
When is the best time to visit Efteling?
Weekdays in term time outside school holidays are the quietest and cheapest. Saturdays, holidays and school holidays in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are the busiest.
How long do you need at Efteling?
One full day covers the main rides and the Fairy Tale Forest. If you want to see the evening show and not rush with small children, plan two days and stay on the resort.
Can I visit Efteling as a day trip from Belgium?
Yes. Antwerp is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car and Brussels about 2 hours. By public transport, plan the route with 9292.nl.
Is Efteling only for children?
No. The Fairy Tale Forest suits small children, but Baron 1898, Python, Joris en de Draak and De Vliegende Hollander are real thrill rides, and many of the dark rides are aimed at all ages.