Efteling, the fairytale theme park in the Netherlands, will be required to limit its annual attendance to 5 million visitors or reduce its nitrogen emissions, with a local court ordering North Brabant to enforce these measures.
North Brabant, a province in the south of the Netherlands, has been told to intervene when Efteling exceeds its annual visitor limit of 5 million. Alternatively, the province must show that Efteling has taken enough nitrogen-limiting measures, Omroep Brabant reports.
The province was told in 2016 that Efteling could host a maximum of 5 million annual guests, as more visitors would cause damage to the Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park. However, the attraction exceeded 5 million visitors in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
North Brabant did not intervene because a closure would have a significant impact on Efteling’s visitors, staff and suppliers. The park applied for a permit to welcome 6 million annual visitors, saying it would limit nitrogen emissions itself.
Efteling exceeding visitor limit
The district court’s judgement, published on January 28, states that the province must decide within 10 weeks whether it enforces the 5 million visitor limit or demonstrate that Efteling’s nitrogen-limiting measures are sufficient.
Efteling recently unveiled plans for a new hotel as well as a new themed area anchored by an indoor attraction, with both projects scheduled to open in 2024 as part of the ‘World of Efteling 2030’ expansion.
“Despite the temporary closure, we do not want to stand still but use this period to prepare ourselves for the future,” said CEO of Efteling, Fons Jurgens. “Last year, the ‘World of Efteling’ development plan was adopted, which has given us a framework for the future and a possible expansion outside the current boundaries of the Efteling theme park.”
Images: Efteling
