Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands,
31
May
2012
|
00:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Efteling theme park opens Europe’s biggest fountain spectacle

Aquanura water show new in Efteling’s World of Wonders

Kaatsheuvel/Netherlands. A construction cost of € 17 million, nine months construction time, of plumbing and 900 lights. On 1 June 2012, as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Efteling opened the largest fountain spectacle in Europe. Four frogs transform the lake just behind the main entrance building into a symphonic water ballet and launch a fountain extravaganza that takes elegant and majestic forms. Many Efteling residents also feature, with iconic figures from the World of Efteling rising in abstracted forms from a lake of flowers. To the sound of well-known Efteling melodies, fairytales are brought to life, including The Red Shoes and the Indian Water Lilies, as well as popular attractions like the Haunted House, Raveleijn and Dreamflight. The interplay between the elements of water, fire, music and light lasts around 12 minutes and can be enjoyed by audiences of up to 6,500 visitors at a time. The spectacular water show is just one of many anniversary highlights to which visitors are being treated in 2012.

Background
With the Aquanura water show, Efteling – Europe’s third largest theme park – pays tribute to one of the original fairytale depictions to feature in the Fairytale Forest, when it first opened in 1952: The Frog Prince. This was Efteling’s first water attraction: a fountain with a golden ball balancing on top of the water. The fountain can still be seen in the Fairytale Forest today, complete with golden ball dancing on the flowing water.

Symbolism
Aqua: Water
Anura: Frog
Nura: Light/Enlightenment
Aquanura: Enlightened Water, Frog Water