Efteling has announced that Hooghmoed, a new drop tower attraction designed especially for younger visitors, will officially open on 1 May 2026.
The ride will stand beside the park’s popular dive coaster, Baron 1898, extending on the existing gold-mine storyline while broadening the park’s thrill offering for families.
As an attraction, Hooghmoed consists of three interconected Family Freefall Tower rides from German manufacturer Zierer.
A first thrill ride for smaller adventurers
Hooghmoed is the first true thrill attraction at Efteling accessible to children from 90 centimetres tall, provided they are accompanied by a guest of at least 130 centimetres. The addition fills a notable gap in the park’s ride line-up, offering a stepping stone for guests who are not yet ready, or tall enough, for Baron 1898’s 37.5-metre plunge.
Storyline continues the Baron legend
The attraction expands the narrative surrounding Baron Gustave Hooghmoed’s gold smeltery, located next to his mine. Visitors take on the role of young chimney sweeps tasked with ascending the towering structure for maintenance. At a height of 9.5 metres, riders spin while taking in sweeping views, until the mysterious Witte Wieven appear. Their sabotage causes a steel cable to snap, sending riders into a sudden drop through mist and smoke effects.
Ride experience and capacity
Hooghmoed features a gold smeltery structure crowned by a 14.5-metre chimney and three individual drop towers, each rising 12 metres. Every tower accommodates 10 riders and operates its own ride cycle of approximately 90 seconds. The maximum drop height reaches six metres, enhanced by audio, mist and smoke effects to create a dramatic but family-friendly sensation.
With all three towers in operation, the attraction is expected to achieve a theoretical capacity of 600 guests per hour, helping to ease demand in the popular Baron 1898 area.
Accessibility has also been incorporated into the design, with each tower including a specially adapted seat for guests with disabilities who can independently transfer from a wheelchair or mobility scooter.
Expanding a flagship area
The new attraction forms part of Efteling’s long-term strategy to grow capacity while preserving its immersive storytelling approach. By adding a smaller-scale experience that shares Baron 1898’s atmosphere and theme, the park aims to appeal to a broader audience without altering the character of the area.
About Efteling
Located in Kaatsheuvel in the south of Netherlands, Efteling opened in 1952 and has welcomed more than 130 million visitors. Known for its blend of fairytale storytelling, natural landscapes and major attractions, the park ranks among Europe’s most visited theme parks and operates year-round as a short-break destination with on-site hotels and holiday villages.
