A Puy du Fou Theme Park for the Netherlands?

(eap) After a feasibility study was carried out by Puy du Fou International several months ago, plans for the creation of a Puy du Fou park in the Netherlands are now obviously coming into focus. In discussion is a possible location in the Dutch province of Drenthe. As confirmed by the park to EAP, as part of its international development, the Puy du Fou group has already been working for several months with the Drenthe region and the municipality of Meppel to create the conditions that could give rise to a historical theme park. The group is pleased about an efficient and constructive partnership, which will lead to the active continuation of exchanges between the parties to determine whether this project could become a reality – according to the park’s statement.

In 2016, the first Puy du Fou evening show in the UK, “Kynren”, was launched (vgl. EAP 3/2016). Since then, the international park group has been on the lookout around the world for potential locations for new Puy du Fou projects. In 2021, Puy du Fou España (see EAP 3/2021) opened in Toledo, the first Puy du Fou theme park outside France. A new show concept called “SAGA”, developed in cooperation with Puy du Fou International, was scheduled to open to visitors in the megacity of Shanghai in China as early as 2022. The attraction, which is 70 percent complete, is now scheduled to launch in late 2023/early 2024. A show in cooperation with the Tribal Council of The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has been announced for 2024 in Tennessee, USA. In the Netherlands, a close cooperation between Puy du Fou and Efteling has existed for several years. As recently as 2020, Puy du Fou and Efteling extended their cooperation for another six years for the park show “Ravelijn”, which was jointly developed in 2013 and is performed daily at the Dutch theme park. Together, the show is implemented by a 50-strong team consisting of artists, stuntmen, riders and falconers. ■