Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Efteling Netherland

My author mate Seanies was there - Loved it... A more gentle and sweet alternative to the color and noise of Movie World and Disneyland is De Efteling (loose translation: the magic forest), a fairytale-themed park in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant. The entrance is spectacular, clawing high into the sky and perfectly capturing the delicate balance between fun and fright, the essence of a good, weird European fairy tale. Disneyland's equivalent is Sleeping Beauty's Castle, about which there is nothing particularly weird or European. There were crates of free apples at De Efteling and, in keeping with the park's theme, I couldn't help wondering if they might be poisoned. They weren't. In fact, they were delicious. It was a very good start. In a move of startling originality, most of De Efteling is set in a dense and lovely forest (rather than several hectares of concrete and hot dog carts) which, appropriately, was very easy to get lost in. The twisting, leaf-covered paths make it a very beautiful place to stroll around, even though I soon tired of seeing Hansel and Gretel stumbling around bawling. (I'd eaten their trail markers). I had some sympathy for them, however - after this week, I knew how it felt to be trapped in a theme park. The strange thing is, I thought that for children around Hansel and Gretel's age it would be heaven on earth. But I suppose fun, like an excess of anything, can be fatal. Compared with Disney's idea of a ghostly spectacle, the Spook House was decidedly low-key and low-tech, but it had noticeably human touches (like things not working properly) which gave it its own charm. It's basically a ballet of shuddering tombstones, creaking doors, toppling balustrades and mysterious monks, all set to spooky music. I am pleased to say that of everything I did at all the parks I visited, this was the least thrilling. I loved it.