Efteling: Holland's own Disneyland

        While Disneyland may be the happiest place in America, Efteling is the happiest place in Holland. Efteling is a magical, fairytale based amusement park that has rides, shows, and other attractions great for the entire family. Although it sounds a lot like Disneyland, Efteling definitely has its own personality. 

        In Efteling’s famous Fairytale Forest, you can walk down a path to find one fairytale after another. Walk through Sleeping Beauty’s castle, try not to eat up the evil witch’s candy house, laugh as the emperor parades in his new clothes, and read some tales that you’ve never even heard about!

        Efteling has some amazing rides including water rides, upside down roller coasters (one has two loops in a row!), and even one where two carts race to get to the finish line first!

        The shows are great! Even though they’re in Dutch, they are definitely worth watching. We watched a show called Raveleijn and the evening water show, and both were amazing.

        And if you can talk your parents into staying a night in the Efteling hotel, prepare to be amazed.

       The outside of the hotel looks like a fairytale castle with its enormous size, tall towers, and large doors. The rooms are amazing, and they even give you a book of fairytales to read! There is a fairytale themed board game inside the room to play with, and the furniture makes it seem like a royal palace. You will find a TV hidden behind a mirror, nightstands that float on the wall. There is a playground and some games in the lobby for the smaller kids. Right outside of the hotel is the park, of course! Hotel guests get to come into the park thirty minutes before its opening, so that they can get to the front of the line one the best rides.

        Efteling is definitely something that should be on your agenda on your next visit to the Netherlands!