THMPRK8.6/10
Photo: Efteling
Destination guide
North Brabant
North Brabant’s park history includes a destination where illustrated stories became a landscape to walk through.
The story behind the day out
A fairytale forest takes root
Efteling’s Fairytale Forest opened in 1952. Anton Pieck’s visual approach and Peter Reijnders’ technical work helped give the stories a physical form. The original idea relied on discovering scenes within a wooded setting, rather than moving between large thrill rides. Later expansion added other attraction formats, but the forest’s beginning remains a distinct regional contribution to the history of themed entertainment.