The Efteling Fairytale Theme Park Near Amsterdam Will Blow Your Rabbit Hole Mind Wide Open & Beyond

Opened in 1952, the historic 160-acre Efteling fairytale theme park is located one hour south of Amsterdam, and according to visitors who have been fortunate enough to experience it, Efteling is without question the most magical — and undoubtedly the trippiest — place on Earth.

Absent of any conventional “Disney-fied” aesthetic, Efteling is brimming with pure, old-world charm and unparalleled fantasy realities. From the landscapes which appear to be straight out of a Seurat painting, to the thatched roofs and mushroom homes that dot the sprawling enchanted forest as they play Bach minuets from their windows, it is impossible to not fall through the park’s rabbit hole of enchantment. 90% of Efteling is devoted to gardens, magical forests, and sand dunes; with a bounty of water rides and roller coasters for added adrenaline-rush thrills. Inspiration for the park is taken from a number of iconic works including: the Brothers Grimm fairytales, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and much, much more. Even the hotel rooms are filled with mysterious, fantastical details such as mouse holes carved out of the baseboards with playing mice, a dancing shoe from Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Red Shoes” tucked in a closet awaiting to be found, and more mysterious surprises around every single corner and path.

You can tell from the photos below that Efteling is an adventure the likes of which quite simply does not exist anywhere else in the world. If you are lucky enough to be near Amsterdam you owe yourself one of the most enchanted experiences imaginable by visiting Efteling.com. For more fantastical stories such as this be sure to visit Fairy Tales on FEELguide.