Visiting Efteling theme park & Amsterdam in April (in car)
Discussion
Hi All,
Looking to drive from West London to Amsterdam to visit a family member that just recently moved over there.
Would be going with the wife & kids (both under 7 yo) in April .
Whilst over there we are considering perhaps visiting Efteling theme park https://www.efteling.com/en/park/seasons/spring for the kids. Can see its situated South of Amsterdam and on route to Calais.
Thinking about 4 or 5 days total.
1st day travel out Amsterdam, 2nd day visit family in Amsterdam, 3rd day Theme park and 4th day drive back.
2 questions really.
Has anyone visited Efteling Theme park in Holland? Is it any good. Looks much newer and economical than Disney Paris!
Debating if its worth taking ferry across from Harwich to hook of Holland or Eurotunnel it?
TIA
Looking to drive from West London to Amsterdam to visit a family member that just recently moved over there.
Would be going with the wife & kids (both under 7 yo) in April .
Whilst over there we are considering perhaps visiting Efteling theme park https://www.efteling.com/en/park/seasons/spring for the kids. Can see its situated South of Amsterdam and on route to Calais.
Thinking about 4 or 5 days total.
1st day travel out Amsterdam, 2nd day visit family in Amsterdam, 3rd day Theme park and 4th day drive back.
2 questions really.
Has anyone visited Efteling Theme park in Holland? Is it any good. Looks much newer and economical than Disney Paris!
Debating if its worth taking ferry across from Harwich to hook of Holland or Eurotunnel it?
TIA
My thread has arrived !
Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
Your plan sounds fine - to really make the most of it, you probably need 1.5 days at Efteling. We’ve stayed at Looncheland (an Efteling hotel) and also “Guest House Hotel” in the nearby town. Both very clean, functional and (relatively) inexpensive.
Can’t comment on travel (we went via Ferry from Hull to Europoort) but having been elsewhere in The Netherlands via Tunnel this summer I think you’re probably looking at 3-4hrs from Calais ?
Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
Your plan sounds fine - to really make the most of it, you probably need 1.5 days at Efteling. We’ve stayed at Looncheland (an Efteling hotel) and also “Guest House Hotel” in the nearby town. Both very clean, functional and (relatively) inexpensive.
Can’t comment on travel (we went via Ferry from Hull to Europoort) but having been elsewhere in The Netherlands via Tunnel this summer I think you’re probably looking at 3-4hrs from Calais ?
chrisdk said:
My thread has arrived !
Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
Your plan sounds fine - to really make the most of it, you probably need 1.5 days at Efteling. We’ve stayed at Looncheland (an Efteling hotel) and also “Guest House Hotel” in the nearby town. Both very clean, functional and (relatively) inexpensive.
Can’t comment on travel (we went via Ferry from Hull to Europoort) but having been elsewhere in The Netherlands via Tunnel this summer I think you’re probably looking at 3-4hrs from Calais ?
Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
Your plan sounds fine - to really make the most of it, you probably need 1.5 days at Efteling. We’ve stayed at Looncheland (an Efteling hotel) and also “Guest House Hotel” in the nearby town. Both very clean, functional and (relatively) inexpensive.
Can’t comment on travel (we went via Ferry from Hull to Europoort) but having been elsewhere in The Netherlands via Tunnel this summer I think you’re probably looking at 3-4hrs from Calais ?
Thanks for the above! Shall look into the accommodation suggestion etc...
What time of year did you visit both times?
How does the park cater for English only speaking visits? i.e. Sign posts in the park, rides, characters etc...
From experience most Dutch seem to speak English very well. Just worried the kids might not
Trying to find on the Efteling website more info on ride heights for our little one who is just over 90cm.
Went in the summer the first time and then at Easter 2022. Easter was a bit colder but didn’t seem to effects things. My son & daughter were 8 & 6 the second time (and 5 & 3 first time).
English is really not an issue. One of the best rides is Symbolica (I’m sure that’s fine for 7 years olds) and all of the “pre-show” is done is dual language. Tbh, the fact that it’s slightly alien is part of the charm, you’re less likely to notice the things which are less well done.
One of my favourite memories is hanging round a bandstand on a summer evening watching an all Dutch crowd dancing round drinking beers and singing & dancing along to some guy leading a band. Cue an impromptu conga which, encouraged by my children, I joined. Ended up clutching the hips of said band leader (!). Only about 10 mins later, after the event and in conversation with another Dutch family did I understand this guy was a big light entertainment star on Dutch tv who takes every Saturday off in the summer to clown around in Efteling.
Would I carouse round hanging off the back of Paddy McGuinness in some seedy corner of Flamingo Land ? No way, but put me in the Dutch equivalent and I’m all over it !
English is really not an issue. One of the best rides is Symbolica (I’m sure that’s fine for 7 years olds) and all of the “pre-show” is done is dual language. Tbh, the fact that it’s slightly alien is part of the charm, you’re less likely to notice the things which are less well done.
One of my favourite memories is hanging round a bandstand on a summer evening watching an all Dutch crowd dancing round drinking beers and singing & dancing along to some guy leading a band. Cue an impromptu conga which, encouraged by my children, I joined. Ended up clutching the hips of said band leader (!). Only about 10 mins later, after the event and in conversation with another Dutch family did I understand this guy was a big light entertainment star on Dutch tv who takes every Saturday off in the summer to clown around in Efteling.
Would I carouse round hanging off the back of Paddy McGuinness in some seedy corner of Flamingo Land ? No way, but put me in the Dutch equivalent and I’m all over it !
chrisdk said:
My thread has arrived !
Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
We went 30 years ago when I was about ten and it was the best holiday I ever went on with my parents. Do they still have the bobsleigh?Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
BobToc said:
chrisdk said:
My thread has arrived !
Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
We went 30 years ago when I was about ten and it was the best holiday I ever went on with my parents. Do they still have the bobsleigh?Big fans of Efteling, have been twice - as you say, a lot more wholesome, relaxed and cheaper than DLP (plus rides are better for older visitors but might not be applicable to under 7s).
Your Dad said:
If your route back to Calais is close to Dunkirk then may I suggest Plopsaland theme park just over the border in Belgium. Plenty for younger kids there, they only have a few big thrill rides as most is geared towards family fun.
We need to visit just for the name...Many thanks for the recommendation!
Panamax said:
If you put the words "car" and "Amsterdam" in the same sentence you will end up regretting it.
Simple as that.
Not my experience. Normally drive right up to the parking garage attached to de Bijenkorf on Damrak, about as central as it gets. Even at peak times it’s maybe 10-15mins from there to the motorway. Simple as that.
zorba_the_greek said:
Your Dad said:
If your route back to Calais is close to Dunkirk then may I suggest Plopsaland theme park just over the border in Belgium. Plenty for younger kids there, they only have a few big thrill rides as most is geared towards family fun.
We need to visit just for the name...Many thanks for the recommendation!
zorba_the_greek said:
Your Dad said:
If your route back to Calais is close to Dunkirk then may I suggest Plopsaland theme park just over the border in Belgium. Plenty for younger kids there, they only have a few big thrill rides as most is geared towards family fun.
We need to visit just for the name...Many thanks for the recommendation!
We did Efteling (by plane into Eindhoven) last Feb and apart from a couple of the rides being down either because of weather (Python) or maintenance (Droomvlucht) it was all open, and fairly short queues.
On site accommodation is excellent, you might find the village at the back of the park useful, you can drive your car right up to the chalet and it's only a short pleasant walk to the park entrance. New hotel won't be open until later this year. We're going again this time by car in May half term - taking in Plopsaland, Efteling, Toverland, Phantasia and Walibi Belgium in a round trip in the week.
Aside from Sweden and Europa Park (which seems a pig to get to), we've done all the main Europe Parks, Efteling is one of my favourites, doesn't have the most thrill rides but the theming is spot on.
If you can find the time, visit Nemo in Amsterdam. The kids will love it! https://www.nemosciencemuseum.nl/en/
Last year we did Plopsaland, Alton Towers, Gardaland, Port Aventura + Ferrari Land, in that order between Easter and Halloween.
Conclusion was that UK parks are crap. Euro parks are a better experience and when visiting during festive periods they have far better theming and special events (Gardaland Oktoberfest beer journey!)
Conclusion was that UK parks are crap. Euro parks are a better experience and when visiting during festive periods they have far better theming and special events (Gardaland Oktoberfest beer journey!)
I've not been to d'Efterling (f
ked my back up the week before we were due to go 
), but worth taking a look at https://www.toverland.com/en/ as well, smaller but has some bigger rides, but there were a couple our mates kids were too small for when we went which might be an issue, so I think d'Efterling is more kid friendly..
Harwich-Hoek is either 5+ hours of boredom, or a more expensive overnighter as you have to have a cabin, and a relatively early start in the morning but quite convenient in terms of not wasting as much time. They do have a cinema on the boat but take a book/tablets/etc if doing the day crossing.
Alternatively we sometimes take the Dover-Dunkirk crossing, or the tunnel, but you're then looking at a 4-5 hour drive to Amsterdam vs 1.5 hours from Hoek.
If you're looking for other things to do I agree with the above about Beekse Bergen, you can stay on site too. Massive zoo in the middle and 2 big drive through areas around it.
If you're not aware, NL has a 100kph maximum speed limit between 6am and 7pm, and quite a lot of speed cameras.
ked my back up the week before we were due to go ), but worth taking a look at https://www.toverland.com/en/ as well, smaller but has some bigger rides, but there were a couple our mates kids were too small for when we went which might be an issue, so I think d'Efterling is more kid friendly..Harwich-Hoek is either 5+ hours of boredom, or a more expensive overnighter as you have to have a cabin, and a relatively early start in the morning but quite convenient in terms of not wasting as much time. They do have a cinema on the boat but take a book/tablets/etc if doing the day crossing.
Alternatively we sometimes take the Dover-Dunkirk crossing, or the tunnel, but you're then looking at a 4-5 hour drive to Amsterdam vs 1.5 hours from Hoek.
If you're looking for other things to do I agree with the above about Beekse Bergen, you can stay on site too. Massive zoo in the middle and 2 big drive through areas around it.
If you're not aware, NL has a 100kph maximum speed limit between 6am and 7pm, and quite a lot of speed cameras.
We did it in August this year with a 9, 7 & 5 yr old.
They loved it! We didn't have chance to do everything as ran out of time... Never been to DLP so cant compare, i remember Efteling being excellent value for money however!
As mentioned above we stayed 3 nights at Beekse Bergen on a Eurocamp section, got free tickets to the resorts pool and zoo also with the price.
They loved it! We didn't have chance to do everything as ran out of time... Never been to DLP so cant compare, i remember Efteling being excellent value for money however!
As mentioned above we stayed 3 nights at Beekse Bergen on a Eurocamp section, got free tickets to the resorts pool and zoo also with the price.
blue_haddock said:
a nice alternative near to amsterdam is Duinrell
and close to the Louwman Museum which will keep the petrolheads occupied for a day Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff