Efteling has had plans to expand for some time, and this extension is described in the draft zoning plan as 'World of the Efteling 2030'. This states, among other things, that Efteling will eventually expand with 8 hectares on the eastern side of the theme park.

This whole plan has to be established this summer, but the Efteling wants to accelerate one part of the plan. So that they can get started with the first part (about 3 hectares) of the new area and open a new attraction in 2020.

The total expansion envisaged by the Efteling is described in the zoning plan as World of the Efteling 2030. In order to be able to realise this plan, the municipality of Loon op Zand, the province of Noord-Brabant, local residents and other local authorities have worked closely together over recent years. Around the summer, this cooperation will follow the definitive zoning plan that, in addition to other developments, will enable the desired expansion. The municipal council must determine this zoning plan.

Efteling has now asked the municipality for permission to start an environmental permit procedure. This permission (deviating from the spatial rules and issuing 'declaration of no objections') is necessary to deviate from the current zoning plan for a small part of the area, in anticipation of the new zoning plan. A request for this has been officially submitted and with this the wishes of Efteling becomes public.

Fons Jurgens, Chairman of the Efteling Board, said:

"What we are asking the municipality is extra construction time. It is the first time since a long time that the Efteling will move its fences. That is a historic moment for us and a challenge. That takes more time to prepare and more time for the construction of an attraction. We would ideally like to present our guests a new attraction in the very first part of the new site in 2020. We will need the extra construction time we are requesting now."

Efteling will announce later on what type of attraction it is and how the new attraction will look like.