When I was a child, I was amazed by the Fairytale Forest. When my father showed me the illustrations in Anton Pieck’s fairy tale book, he told me that the romantic fairy tale houses were built based on those drawings. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to make such drawings myself, and then bring them to life. It is really a child’s dream come true for me.
Sander de Bruijn began his career in the themed entertainment industry with a passion for design and storytelling. After studying at the Graphic Lyceum Utrecht from 1998 to 2001, he continued his education at the University of the Arts in Utrecht, graduating in 2005. During this time, he also gained hands-on experience working as a holiday employee at Efteling, one of Europe’s most iconic theme parks. In 2005, he officially joined Efteling as a senior designer, where he played a key role in shaping the park’s visual identity through landmark attractions such as Raveleijn, Baron 1898, and Symbolica, as well as contributing to beloved fairy tale scenes like The Six Swans and The Princess on the Pea. Since 2018, he has served as Efteling’s manager of design & experience, overseeing the creative direction of the park.
The department is artistically responsible for the entire design process, from concept development to final design. The focus is on developing visions for themed areas, where attractions, retail, hospitality and entertainment are all designed in one theme for total guest immersion within one area. de Bruijn’s team consists of more than 40 people, including architects, landscape architects, graphic designers, creative concept specialists, spatial designers, decorators, costume designers and tailors. The designers work closely with colleagues in the Technical Design department.