Efteling, the fantasy-themed amusement park in the Netherlands, has unveiled its new spooky themed area and indoor attraction called Danse Macabre, set to open in 2024.
Danse Macabre is replacing the park’s Haunted Castle, or ‘Spookslot’. The themed area, which will cover an area of 17,000 square metres, will be anchored by the new indoor attraction.
Named after French composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ tone poem, Efteling’s latest offering will be “creepy and terrifying”, according to a press release. Efteling described the setting as “mysterious”.
“For Danse Macabre, I was inspired by the original sketches and ideas for the Spookslot haunted house, among other things,” said Efteling designer Jeroen Verheij.
“It is of course a great honour and a challenge to be able to think up something suitable for such a historic place. The attentive visitor may see some familiar elements in the future.”
Danse Macabre replaces the Haunted Castle
“But it will be all new: we will completely immerse visitors and they will experience the Danse Macabre like never before,” he said. “We will keep the creepy theme and extend it through all the details in the themed area.”
Efteling is also opening a new hotel called Efteling Grand Hotel in 2024. Part of the ‘World of Efteling 2030’ expansion, it will be Efteling’s largest hotel, and the first to be located within the theme park.
“In terms of design, this hotel fits in with other characteristic buildings at Efteling, but its shape and functionality give it a character all of its own,” said Sander de Bruijn, head designer of the hotel.
In addition, Efteling launched a fairytale inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland for its 70th anniversary, with the new temporary attraction on offer through 3 October.
Spookslot will close to visitors after summer 2022.
