The Efteling had 4.9 million visitors in 2024. With this number of visitors, the park remained just within the borders of the nature permit. The permit stipulates that the amusement park may receive a maximum of five million visitors per year. With a net turnover of more than 300 million euros and a net operating result of 36.8 million euros, the Efteling speaks of a successful year.
The total number of visits rose to 5.6 million. The difference of 700,000 between the number of individual visitors and visits are people who stay in the park for several days. But according to Efteling, these visitors, despite a longer stay, have the same traffic movement and nitrogen emissions as day trippers. And so only count once in the estimates for individual visitors. The nature permit looks at the number of unique visitors and the traffic movements due to nitrogen emissions.
According to the nature permit, Efteling may receive a maximum of 5 million visitors each year. If there are more people, this can, for example, lead to damage to the nearby nature reserve Loonse and Drunense Duinen. Efteling therefore balances on the edge with 4.9 million individual visitors. If it exceeds the number of 5 million, a fine is lurking or the park may have to close.
“Can’t do more than wait and prepare us as well as possible for different scenarios.”
“At the moment there is no clarity about our new nature permit,” a spokesperson said. The application has been with the province for years, but because of the nitrogen lock no new permits are issued. “That is why we cannot do more than wait and prepare as well as possible for different scenarios.”
The number of visitors is now being monitored by the park. “There is still a small space to receive more guests within the border of 5 million visitors, but that margin is minimal,” said the spokesperson. The park is already thinking about different scenarios, they were allowed to exceed the maximum number of visitors. He cannot say what that is for scenarios. “No concrete decision has been made about this at the moment, so we can’t say anything specific about that yet.”
“Danse Macabre is enrichment for the park.”
In 2024, more visitors from abroad came to the Efteling for a day or a weekend. In the past year, Efteling invested in the park for more than 105 million euros. Among other things in the latest attraction Danse Macabre, the renovation of the castle of Doornroosje, the candy house of Hans and Grietje but also in the Efteling Grand Hotel that will soon be opened.
The opening of Danse Macrabre calls general director Fons Jurgens a highlight of 2024. “The reactions to this attraction, which is unique in the world, are very enthusiastic. It is an absolute enrichment for our park.” The staff received a 8.9 from visitors as a score.
