Efteling: a sustainable fairytale

That the Efteling is a great day out for young and old alike, I probably don't need to tell you anymore. But that the Efteling is also a sustainable theme park, far fewer people still know that. To change that, we would like to tell you the green fairy tale of the Efteling. Because Holle Bolle Gijs, the Python, Langnek and all the other residents and attractions have also, without you perhaps realising it, become more and more sustainable in recent years.

The Efteling is a sustainable day out!

In cooperation with the Efteling

When Frank (7) got a message from school that he would have an unexpected day off on Friday, we had two choices: bravely start practising tables at home or seek adventure and go to the Efteling for a day. Three guesses where the choice fell... We grabbed this opportunity with both hands, because with a school-going child, when do you get the chance to visit the Efteling on weekdays?

It was exactly as I also remembered it as a child: it was magical! Even if you are almost forty, you are never too old for the Efteling. The only thing that made this day different now was that this day out now also had a green edge for me. Because in between all the roller coaster rides, we also learned that the Efteling is working very hard to be a sustainable park. For instance, they want to become climate neutral by 2030 and climate positive by 2032. Now that you know this from me, next time you will look at this special park with different eyes.

‘Paper here’ takes on a new meaning when you know that the Efteling also takes waste separation and circularity very seriously.

The sustainability challenges of an amusement park

A theme park can turn a number of knobs when it comes to sustainability. What are the biggest impact makers? First and foremost, all those fun attractions. Pulling you through a looping at 85 kilometres per hour requires an awful lot of energy (electricity). A first step is to choose green electricity. The Efteling has already done that, but they are going a step further. They have installed 13,500 solar panels and another 12,000 will be added this year. If you are not afraid of heights, you can see a few hundred of them from the Pagoda on the beautiful roof garden on the Symbolica attraction.

The pagoda and the view of the solar panels.

These sustainable steps the Efteling is taking

Holle Bolle Gijs and his ‘paper here’ suddenly takes on a totally different connotation. What else can you expect from the Efteling in terms of sustainability:

• Europe's largest charging plaza to make it as easy as possible for guests with electric cars. As many as 174 electric cars can charge at the same time! Coming by e-car and want to charge? Tell the parking attendants and they will direct you to the right place!
• The bicycle parking is free, so visitors from the area can easily come by bike.
• Twelve thousand solar panels on the car park to generate a fifth of the Efteling's annual electricity consumption. This is comparable to an average electricity consumption of about 1,750 households.
• There are also solar panels on several roofs of attraction buildings and restaurants.
• A solar meadow will be built in 2023 to accommodate another 12,000 solar panels. As a result of this expansion, there will soon be 25,500 solar panels in and around the park. This will allow the Efteling to generate a total of around 35 per cent of its annual (current) electricity consumption itself.
• With Stichting Natuurpark de Efteling, nature in the area will be protected. A maximum of 11 per cent of the amusement park may be built on, leaving enough space for biodiversity. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio and Tom Thumb have many co-inhabitants such as foxes, rabbits, hedgehogs, squirrels, bats, butterflies and as many as 92 bird species.
  
  

At the Efteling, you can also find vegetarian and vegan snacks.

• The deposit on PET bottles can be donated by visitors to the charity supported by the Efteling. As many as 583,129 PET bottles were handed in in 2022. This allowed €87,469.36 to be donated to Villa Pardoes, a foundation dedicated to giving families with a seriously ill child an unforgettable holiday experience.
• Almost all lighting at the attractions and at the main entrance are LED lights.
• From 2023, the buildings in the Anderrijk section of the park will be heated and cooled gas-free. The Efteling Grand Hotel, which opens in 2024, will also be connected to this installation.
• The Efteling is also working on circularity. Its ambition is no more residual waste by 2030. Separating waste in the right way is their biggest challenge. Behind the scenes, the Efteling collects all the different waste streams separately. And that yields various new raw materials. In addition, in consultation with suppliers, they try to avoid unnecessary packaging and opt for recyclable alternatives.
• Guests with vegetarian and vegan diets have also been considered.
  • At Bäckerei Krümel, several options of plate pizzas and cakes for different diets are available.
  • Fabula Restaurant also offers a diverse selection of pastas and salads.
  • The Unox sandwiches are also available as a vegetarian variant.
    
    

See all sustainable projects at the Efteling.

The Efteling: an unforgettable day with a green edge

If you are planning to visit the Efteling soon (I say do it!), there are some things you can do yourself to make this day out more sustainable.

• Bring your own snacks and drinks in refillable bottles and storage boxes.
• Keep the park clean and throw away all junk in the bins and baskets you find everywhere.
• Don't buy unnecessary goodies.
• Coming with a petrol car? You can also offset the mileage of the outings you make, for example through Trees for All.
  
  

Mee sustainable outings by thegreenlist.nl

• Also see: 24 Hours in Tilburg, this is the place to be!
• Also see: A sustainable city tour of Amsterdam.
• Also see: holidays on Terschelling, the list of the best Terschelling tips!
  
  

Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.