Milestone Back to the Fairy Beginning

As much as they caused excitement, the more thrilling rides also seemed to provoke some debate. Some found them a welcome addition to the Fairytale Forest, while others found that they did not fit in with the spirit of the park. In 1986, after its 35th year, the park saw a change in direction when it opened the Fata Morgana attraction. Fata Morgana is one of the many creations designed by Ton van de Ven, Anton Pieck’s successor. Efteling returns to its fairytale beginnings with the introduction of the Forbidden City, a boat ride that takes the visitor through the mystical world of the orient in 1001 Nights. But it’s a return with a twist. These fairytales are original Efteling creations: modern fairy tales for modern tastes. The same year, the Pagode took flight giving visitors a bird’s eye view of the park from 45 metres in the air. The one year later, the Troll King arrived at the Efteling.

Pardoes the Wizard is first introduced in 1989 as a mascot for the park, reflecting all of the park’s dimensions. Henny Knoet was the creator of Pardoes the Wizard, bringing his life’s story to the fore. Another example of an original fairy tale is the People of Laaf who decided to settle in the Efteling in 1990 after wandering underground for millions of years. That year, the family theme park attracted over 2.5 million visitors.In 1991, the Efteling changed track again, with the construction of the wooden rollercoaster ‘Pegasus’. This year also witnessed the construction of the Efteling Hotel, Efteling’s Summer Circus and over 2.6 million visitors.