Netherlands-based theme park Efteling plans to submit an application to expand the park by eight hectares and add a new attraction in 2020.
The expansion is part of its draft ‘World of Efteling 2030’ masterplan to take place in three phases, completing in 2030. The Loon op Zand municipal council in North Brabant is expected to sanction the final draft of the development plan this summer, while Efteling has requested to advance one section in order to start preparing the land for the first part of the project.
The first part of the plan will cover three hectares of a planned eight-hectare expansion to the east and will include a new attraction to open in 2020. The fantasy-themed park hopes that this first phase will see it achieve five million visits the year the attraction opens.
Fons Jurgens, Efteling President and CEO, said: “We are asking the municipality for additional time for construction. This is the first time in a long time that Efteling is planning to move its borders. It is both a historic moment for us, as well as a challenge.
“More time is needed to prepare and construct an attraction. Ideally, we would like to welcome our guests to the new attraction located in the first section of the new site in 2020. The additional construction time we are requesting now will be much needed.”
Efteling opened in 1952 as a sports and recreation park, with the Fairytale Forest as its main attraction. In the early 80s, the park grew to add new and larger attractions to appeal to a wider demographic. This development plan will be Efteling’s first significant expansion into new land for many years.
Image: Efteling
