Netherlands: Construction for Efteling’s Grand Hotel Begins

After months of preparation, Efteling has begun construction of its newest accommodation offering, Efteling Grand Hotel. Over the past few weeks, around 10,000 cubic metres of sand have been excavated behind the park’s “House of the Five Senses”-named main entrance. In the coming days, 380 pylons totaling six kilometres in length will be drilled into the ground, over which some 2,500 cubic metres of concrete will be poured to create the building’s foundations. The construction of the largest hotel within the World of Efteling (with 143 rooms across seven floors and a total of around 700 beds) also marks the start of a new area at the main entrance: the “Island of the Five Senses”. The square between the main entrance and the new hotel, which is scheduled to open its gates in 2024, will form a pleasant verdant retreat for both hotel guests and park visitors. Walking across the square, trees, shrubs and perennials give way to reveal more and more of the new hotel. A nine-metre high and 16-metre wide arcade will form an impressive entrance for guests who enter the park.

The hotel’s concept is an ode to Efteling, where past and present will come together. For Sander de Bruijn, head designer, this was the focus of the design: “For Efteling Grand Hotel, I was partly inspired by one of the smallest scenes in the park: ‘The Golden Goose’. Designed by Anton Pieck, this tableau was placed on Anton Pieck Plein in 1958. The clock and the decorative ornamentation of the interior of ‘The Golden Goose’ is reflected in the facade of Efteling Grand Hotel. As the hotel develops, visitors will also see this inspiration in the floors and colour palette,” describes de Bruijn. In addition to the 143 rooms, the new Grand Hotel will have a swimming pool and spa, two restaurants and two souvenir shops. In addition, Efteling is currently working on a new family scare experience to replace the previous “Spookslot” which will be called “Danse Macabre”. (eap)