New drop tower attraction Hooghmoed to open at Efteling on 1 May 2026

24th February 2026 - The youngest thrill-seekers will soon have something to look forward to at Efteling. On 1 May 2026, a brand-new drop tower attraction will open directly next to Baron 1898, sharing the same theme as the popular dive coaster. Hooghmoed is the first thrilling attraction at Efteling designed for children from 90 centimetres tall. Children must be accompanied by someone at least 130 centimetres tall.

The story

Baron Gustave Hooghmoed’s smeltery stands next to his gold mine, Baron 1898. The tall chimney of the gold smeltery must be cleaned regularly. To reach the chimney, the young chimney sweeps (the attraction visitors) the lift tower up. Spinning at a height of 9.5 metres, the view is spectacular. But then the Witte Wieven (the Wailing Women) appear and sabotage the ride. A steel cable snaps and the lift plunges several metres down into mist and smoke…

About the attraction

The drop tower attraction Hooghmoed consists of the so-called gold smeltery with a 14.5-metre-high chimney and three drop towers, each 12 metres tall. Each tower has a capacity of 10 people, allowing 30 guests per ride. The three towers each feature their own ride sequence of approximately 1.5 minutes. The maximum drop height is six metres. Effects such as sound, mist and smoke create an immersive experience.

Each lift tower includes a seat that has been made extra accessible for guests with disabilities. Guests must be able to transfer independently from a wheelchair or mobility scooter to the seat.

Background

Hooghmoed is suitable for visitors who find Baron 1898 too intense or who fall under the height requirement of 132 centimetres. In line with Efteling’s vision, the area surrounding Baron 1898 is being expanded with an attraction that matches the dive coaster in atmosphere and theme. The attraction is smaller in scale and therefore contributes to capacity and broadens the offering for a wider target audience. The expected capacity is 600 guests per hour.