Efteling – the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland – has welcomed the very first visitors to its 30th fairytale in the Fairytale Forest, the Six Swans.
The Six Swans have landed between the fairy tales of Snow White and Cinderella and amazed the first visitors. “Fairy tales have been the origin of Efteling since 1952. That is why we continue to enrich the Fairytale Forest with new stories. This relatively unknown fairy tale is a classic – a beautiful and interactive addition that underlines our role as guardian of the fairy tale.” says Fons Jurgens, CEO of Efteling.
Taken from the Brothers Grimm fairytale, the Six Swans tells the story of Elisa, the brave younger sister who has to break her brother’s spell.
The 30th fairy tale in the beating heart of the Dutch theme park can be experienced in two unique ways: on the back of a swan or by entering the castle on foot.
Twinkling asters
Visitors are surprised when they enter the castle and meet Elisa. Her six brothers have been turned into swans by their jealous stepmother. To break the spell, she must not speak or laugh for six years and must knit six shirts made from aster flowers. Inside the castle, Elisa is surrounded by 606 twinkling aster flowers – 101 asters per brother – that light up when the swans pass. Outside, around the hidden castle, there are thousands of aster flowers, which play an important role in the fairy tale.
Sail or View
The Six Swans is the first fairytale in the Fairytale Forest that can be experienced in two ways, sailing or viewing. Visitors can sit on the back of an almost three-metre-long swan or enter the castle on foot and view Elisa from the side. This gives an extra dimension and provides a unique experience for young and old.
In honour of the 30th fairytale in the Fairytale Forest, guests can also visit a temporary exhibition at the Efteling Museum, which is entirely themed around the 30 fairytales in the Fairytale Forest.
Entry to the Six Swans is included as part of the Efteling entrance ticket. Tickets are priced from 38€ per person (children under four visit for free).
A one-night stay at the Efteling Hotel is priced from 395€ for a comfort room, based on two adults and two children sharing.
