The Winter Efteling: a heart-warming wonderland

A new haunt: Danse Macabre

On 31 October 2024, Efteling opened its newest ride, inspired by its predecessor Spookslot. Efteling’s original haunted house was closed in September 2022, two years later Danse Macabre opened its doors, named after the music of the original Haunted Castle. Where Spookslot was a mesmerizing show, Danse Macabre is an actual ride.

The tale of Danse Macabre is not for the faint of hearted, neither is entering the Huyverwoud forest and the abbey. We won’t give away what awaits you there! You’ll just have to take a seat in the sinister choir stalls and remember that not all cats are as sweet as they appear.

Efteling in winter

If you are wondering if Efteling is worth visiting in winter, the answer is absolutely, yes. This year, Winter Efteling lasts from 11 November 2024 to 2 February 2025. Unlike many other amusement parks, Efteling has many indoor attractions and dark rides, which you can enjoy rain, snow or shine.

Some of the not to miss indoor rides are, along with Danse Macabre, Droomvlucht, Symbolica, Vogel Rok, Fata Morgana, Villa Volta, and the Steam Carousel. Meanwhile, the outdoor roller coasters will be open as long as the weather permits it. The best way to check which rides are open is in the Efteling app, which also shows you how long the lines are at the rides and where everything is.

During Winter Efteling, the park offers several seasonal activities that you won’t find at any other time of year. Warm yourself at the Warm Winter Meadow with its multiple bonfires and seasonal treats. Or rent some skates to perfect your pirouettes on the open-air ice rink. A visit to Winter Efteling truly is unlike any other experience!

How to get to Efteling

Unlike Copenhagen's theme park Tivoli, the Efteling is not set in a major Dutch city. One of the easiest ways to visit Efteling is by car, which takes about an hour from Rotterdam and an hour and fifteen minutes from Amsterdam. The other option is public transport, there are special Efteling buses from Den Bosch and Tilburg, which are easily reachable by train from both Rotterdam and Amsterdam.