Visitors to Efteling can experience an innovative shuttle service this summer, as the theme park tests a self-driving bus to transport guests to and from nearby accommodation options.
It marks a major milestone for autonomous public transport, being only the second time a self-driving bus has operated on public roads in the Netherlands following a similar initiative in Rotterdam.
Route and Service Details
The new shuttle service departs from Efteling’s main bus stop on Europalaan. From there, the vehicle travels around the side of the park, stopping at the Efteling Wonder Hotel, Villa Pardoes, Efteling Loonsche Land, and Efteling Bosrijk, before looping back to the main station.
The full round trip takes just under 20 minutes. The service is completely free of charge, fully wheelchair accessible, and can accommodate around 20 passengers.
Safety and Technology
The trial features an Arriva city bus specially wrapped in Efteling branding. Although packed with advanced technology, passengers might not notice immediately that the vehicle is self-driving. A qualified safety driver from Arriva remains behind the wheel to step in if required, accompanied by an operator monitoring real-time vehicle data. The service has been thoroughly tested and officially approved for operation along the specified route.
Dutch Automated Mobility (DAM) is managing the implementation, utilising a Karsan bus equipped with ADASTEC’s Autonomous Driving System and fleet management software from Applied Autonomy. The route spans both private resort grounds and public roads, offering a valuable environment to test autonomous transit in complex real-world traffic situations.
Pilot Program
The pilot runs for approximately eight weeks, operating Wednesday through Sunday during the mornings and afternoons. Throughout the trial period, project managers will monitor feedback from guests and staff to help evaluate the long-term future of the shuttle service.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between transport operator Arriva, local and regional government authorities, SmartwayZ.NL, Efteling, and Dutch Automated Mobility.
Fons Jurgens, Chief Executive Officer of Efteling, highlighted the potential for guest accessibility:
"To improve accessibility to Efteling by public transport, we are keen to explore all possibilities. An innovative development like testing this self-driving shuttle service is a perfect opportunity for this. Together with our partners, we can discover how our holiday guests can travel even better by public transport. I am very curious to see the results."
Stijn Smeulders, Regional Minister for Mobility, emphasised the future of regional transport:
"Self-driving buses will sooner or later become a permanent part of the public transport system. That offers plenty of opportunities as we look to grow our timetables alongside regional development. I am pleased we can lead the way by testing it here, especially at such a wonderful location like Efteling."
Jan Pieter Been, Regional Director for Arriva, added:
"The self-driving shuttle service is a fantastic addition to our bus network, covering a route segment that Arriva alone would not be able to operate, as it crosses both public roads and private grounds. Thanks to this regional cooperation, it is now possible, providing a prime opportunity to gain early experience with the technologies of tomorrow."
