What does Bart say? | Theme Parks • Fairs • Attractions

The summer season is in full swing, and so is Efteling. Just like in previous years, various squares across the park have been packed with extra entertainment and unique food stalls to completely immerse you in those ultimate summer vibes. But is Efteling truly worth a visit this summer with its new entertainment lineup and extended opening hours? Or are you actually better off postponing your trip to the park until a much quieter period?

A dramatic makeover for the Fata Morgana square:
Compared to last year, the Fata Morgana Square has undergone the biggest transformation. While last summer was all about meet-and-greets with the Djinn and his guardians, this year features a fully fledged storyline centered around the giant giant. In a 30-minute show packed with dance, acrobatics, and a touch of humor, the guards desperately try to keep the Djinn awake to prevent the Fata Morgana from disappearing forever. (A clever play on words, as Fata Morgana is the Dutch word for a mirage—a joke that might unfortunately fly over the heads of non-Dutch visitors!). While the show was wonderfully put together, it did feel a little too long at certain points.

I do have a few minor critiques: the Efteling app failed to mention the show’s runtime, which caused my mind to wander halfway through. That was a shame, because the finale was spectacular. Additionally, a large portion of the square is cordoned off to give the performers the space they need. While completely understandable for their safety, it heavily disrupts the flow of visitors trying to make their way to the ride’s entrance.

All in all, this is a highly welcome addition that brings a fantastic burst of energy and life to the Fata Morgana Square. Insider tip: If you plan on skipping the show and just want to ride the attraction, the best time to visit is between 12:00 and 16:00, when the queue is usually at its quietest.

2026 update: parts of the above may not apply this year.

Day dreaming with the Droomvlucht Fairies at the Ton van de ven Plein:
Just like last year, you can take a seat on one of the enchanted flower swings at the Ton van de Ven Plein. With the iconic Droomvlucht soundtrack playing in the background, it’s the perfect spot to relax and unwind—and with a bit of luck, one of the fairies might even join you on the swing. A new addition this year is a brief performance by the fairies (and by brief, I mean really brief; the performance lasted less than a minute). While this quick act adds a nice touch of life to the square, there still isn’t quite enough happening here to justify lingering for long.

One major positive this year is that Efteling has brought back the virtual queue for Droomvlucht. You have to be near the attraction to join, but once you’re in, you are completely free to explore the rest of the area—like riding Villa Volta or exploring Volk van Laaf—while you wait. Following the permanent virtual queue system over at Danse Macabre, you can really tell there is a high demand for this, and the guest response has been incredibly positive. Let’s hope Efteling decides to keep the virtual queue active even after the summer season ends.

Despite the new fairy act, the Ton van de Ven Plein still lacks a bit of atmosphere. Efteling has set up extra catering locations and picnic areas, but apart from the fairies, no other entertainment has been added. This area would be absolutely perfect for a small acoustic stage featuring a singer-songwriter or a small group of live musicians. Not only would this make the virtual wait for Droomvlucht much more pleasant, but it would also give the square some much-needed repeat value. Efteling has been running this summer concept for several years now, and you can see them making improvements every year. Perhaps an option for the 2026 summer season?

Python Pietje presents: the Steelcrew:
Just like last year, Python Pietje is back with the Steelcrew on the Python stage. In a high-energy, 20-minute show, Python Pietje shares his absolute love for steel—and especially his passion for the Python roller coaster—accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the Steelcrew on drums. When this stage was introduced a few years ago, it featured two rotating acts: DJ Dizzy and the Sterkstaaltjes strength show. Back then, the entire stage was woven into the performance, utilizing the miniature Python coaster hanging above as a literal communication link to the “Python headquarters.” Unfortunately, this feature is no longer used for the Python Pietje show. It’s a real shame, as keeping that element alive could have made the act much more interactive and made better use of the entire stage design.

On the plus side, the storyline they are telling is straightforward and incredibly easy to follow, even for international guests, thanks to the English subtitles displayed on the screen. However, while it’s accessible, it is ultimately a performance that lacks replay value for me.

You can clearly tell that the target demographic here is a younger crowd. While it’s an enjoyable show for older visitors to catch in passing, you shouldn’t worry if you happen to miss it during your day. Efteling has proven over the last few years that they can deliver much deeper storytelling on these stages—take Dr. Charlatan’s Cabaret Macabre, for example. For the 2026 summer season, I would love to see something entirely new on this stage, or at least have it alternated with another act to keep things fresh.

2026 update: the Python Pietje Presents: The Steelcrew show is not part of this year’s entertainment lineup.

Dr. Charlatans Cabaret Macabre in the Huyverwoud:
Virginie and Otto Charlatan have left the Huyverwoud to make way for two new members of the Charlatan family (they didn’t mention their names, or I might have just missed them). Did you know that a Charlatan can can-can (pun intended! 😉) do just about anything? No? Neither did I—until I saw Dr. Charlatan’s Cabaret Macabre. The Charlatans reveal more about themselves during a lively musical number set to the tune of the famous can-can, seamlessly blending it with a touch of dark humor and various magic tricks.

Despite the lack of direct audience interaction, the performers command the stage and ensure your attention remains glued to them throughout. I must admit I was a little skeptical at first. Virginie and Otto Charlatan have been a massive success over the past few years, and their act is incredibly tough to follow. However, Efteling has managed to find a highly suitable—and in my opinion, fantastic—successor. This new act stands completely separate from the storyline of Virginie, Otto, and the Danse Macabre attraction itself. This clever choice ensures the performance remains timeless, allowing it to return for many summer seasons to come, and perhaps even beyond.

The show lasted 20 minutes and was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, maintaining a brisk enough pace to keep the entire audience (myself included) captivated without anyone feeling the urge to wander off. The main song is an absolute earworm, and the magic tricks were a wonderful surprise. I’m honestly still wondering how they pulled some of them off—well done, Efteling!

Are your feet warmed up? Are you ready to party? Because you won’t be able to stand still for the next half hour! The Red Nose Boogie Boys are back for the 2025 season to turn the Jokie en Jet Summer Beach into one massive dance floor. This is a performance to be enjoyed by young and old alike, with the audience heavily involved through clapping, waving, and even dancing along. The Red Nose Boogie Boys arrive at the summer beach rocking out in their signature red bus—until it breaks down, forcing them to warm up for their big show right there on the square. While the dialogue is in Dutch, the energetic English-language songs mean international visitors shouldn’t miss out on the fun!

The Red Nose Boogie Boys aren’t the only ones hitting the sand. Jokie and Jet themselves make appearances from late morning until midday. Please note that they are there for a stage performance, so a post-show meet-and-greet isn’t guaranteed. What is guaranteed, however, is a meet-and-greet with Princess Pardijn in her special summer outfit. She is present throughout the day; just hop in line if you want your picture taken with her. A professional photo will be captured and made available for purchase at the adjacent merchandise stand, but you are naturally more than welcome to take your own photo with your smartphone too.

Unfortunately, even after several years, Efteling has not quite succeeded in making the summer beach concept engaging when the weather takes a turn for the worse. While the setup makes sense on paper—complete with food stalls, palm trees, beach chairs, and parasols—it ultimately falls a bit flat. In my eyes, it lacks true atmosphere. We know Efteling is a master at creating ambiance—just look at the Warm Winter Meadow during the winter season. It occupies the exact same area of the park, yet feels significantly cozier, warmer, and beautifully decorated.

2026 update: The entire “Summer Beach” concept has been completely reimagined this year! The Red Nose Boogie Boys have traded their broken-down bus for a spot on the massive main stage over at the new festival grounds on the Speelweide.

The Anderberg Musikverein and Max & Moritz at the Max en Moritz plein:
One of the squares I enjoy the least during Summer Efteling is the Max en Moritz Plein. During the day, you will spot Max and Moritz driving around in their homemade contraptions to cause mischief. I still find this a bizarre sight: two adult actors portraying young children causing trouble. Don’t get me wrong, the actors themselves do a great job, but the concept remains tough to get used to, even after several years.

As late afternoon approaches, the Anderberg Musikverein arrives to transform the village square into a massive folk festival. While the atmosphere on the square is undeniably energetic, it often feels like there is simply too much happening all at once. You have the Anderberg Musikverein providing the live music, while Bakker Krümel and Frau Schmetterling simultaneously hype up the crowd to sing and dance along.

I was first introduced to the Anderberg Musikverein a few years ago. While it is the perfect background act for grabbing a drink with friends, it is a performance that repeats itself multiple times a day, year after year. I probably won’t make many friends among fellow annual passholders by saying this, but this just isn’t my kind of entertainment. You can certainly have a fun evening here, but given everything Efteling has to offer this summer, I personally prefer to go dance with the Red Nose Boogie Boys.

An evening with Donkey in the Fairytale Forest Theatre:
This year, it was finally Donkey’s turn to tell his story at the Fairytale Forest Theatre, and it did not disappoint at all! What a fantastic and original show. Like most productions in this theater, it was an interactive performance packed with humor and perfectly tailored songs to enhance Donkey’s tale. Over the course of 20 minutes, Donkey completely captivated the audience. While a few jokes didn’t quite land or were understood a bit too late—leading to the occasional awkward silence—the actor handled it brilliantly and kept the energy high. An Evening with Donkey is clearly a beloved addition; the theater was completely packed with guests of all ages. This might be due to the stellar actor playing Donkey that evening (I’ve seen him in other roles before, and he is incredibly talented). Either way, it is wonderful to see this theater getting the love it deserves with a full house.

I do have one point of criticism, though it has nothing to do with the show itself, but rather with the superfans. It was obvious that a certain group of people in the audience had seen the show multiple times, as they started singing and dancing along before Donkey even had a chance to start his cue. While the actor handled the disruption well, I found it highly distracting—especially for those experiencing the show for the very first time.

2026 update: An Evening with Donkey has packed its bags! This year, Donkey has moved out of the Fairytale Forest Theatre and can be found performing live on the main stage at the new Efteling Summer Festival on the Speelweide.

With extended opening hours, a packed lineup of extra entertainment, and hopefully great weather, Efteling is definitely worth a visit during the summer season. Thanks to the virtual queue systems at Droomvlucht and Danse Macabre, you can manage your time incredibly efficiently—allowing you to grab a bite to eat or hit nearby attractions while you wait. During my multiple visits last July to review the entertainment acts, I rarely saw queue times exceed 30 minutes, with obvious exceptions like Piraña on the hotter days. With wait times like that, you can easily ride all your favorites and still catch several of the shows.

However, if your goal is to experience every single ride and see all the extra entertainment acts, I highly recommend stretching your visit across at least two days. It took me several trips to see all the different acts at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Because many of the showtimes overlap or start at the exact same time, trying to squeeze everything into a single day forces you to rush. Even with the extended opening hours, a one-day trip will ultimately leave you facing a tough choice: do I watch the extra entertainment, or do I ride my favorite roller coasters?

2026 update: This decision has become a whole lot easier this year! With Efteling centralizing most of its major summer acts onto the massive new Summer Festival grounds on the Speelweide, you no longer have to constantly rush across the entire park to catch different shows. This makes balancing your favorite rides and the seasonal entertainment much more manageable in a single day.