Starting August 12, you can use a new shuttle service at Efteling for free. Line 7 connects the Europalaan bus stop at Efteling’s main entrance with Villa Pardoes, parking area P4, and the accommodation locations Efteling Wonder Hotel, Efteling Loonsche Land, and Efteling Bosrijk. After that, the bus returns to the Europalaan bus stop.

The ride takes about twenty minutes in total. The bus is free, wheelchair accessible, and has space for about twenty passengers. Line 7 runs for free from Wednesday to Sunday between 8:00 and 12:00 and 16:30 and 19:00. During the eight-week trial, there will be close monitoring of how guests and staff experience the service. After that, a decision will be made about the future of the shuttle service.

Fons Jurgens: “To make it easier to reach Efteling by public transport, we’re happy to look into what’s possible. An innovative project like testing the self-driving shuttle is a perfect opportunity for this. Together with our partners, we can find out how our guests staying overnight can travel even better by public transport. I’m really curious to see what we’ll discover.”

Line 7 is the second self-driving bus in the Netherlands to run on public roads. During the test period, it’s an extra service alongside the regular public transport and free Shuttle Service. Even with all the smart technology on board, most travelers probably won’t notice right away that the bus drives itself. There’s simply an Arriva driver behind the wheel—a so-called safety driver who can take over if needed. There’s also always someone riding along to monitor all the bus data. The bus itself looks just like a regular Arriva city bus, but with an Efteling theme. The RDW has tested the bus thoroughly and it’s been approved to run on this route.