The new ‘horror area’ Danse Macabre that De Efteling is building will open in the autumn of 2024. The park in Kaatsheuvel announced this on social media on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Efteling also started major maintenance of the Piraña water attraction. If we can believe Efteling, no one will escape a wet suit after the renovation.
Danse Macabre will be located on the site of the old, iconic Haunted Castle that closed its doors in 2022. The new theme area will be 17,000 square meters. Elements from the old Haunted Castle can also be seen in the new Danse Macabre, the park reports.
“For example, various objects from the Haunted Castle will return and a gigantic orchestra will breathe new life into 150-year-old music.” It is not known whether Kate Bush’s gravestone, which was part of the Haunted Castle, will return in the new horror attraction.
The park also shared on Tuesday what will happen to the Piraña. Efteling is investing around 8 million euros in the 1983 attraction. The original rocks and waterfalls need to be replaced after forty years, so new rocks have been designed, with more details and that will fit in better with the whole.
“Shortly after boarding you will encounter the first new water gods.”
The facade will be given a new coat of paint, the entire pump cellar (which initiates the flow of water) will be replaced by energy-efficient pumps, cabling will be renewed and lighting will be replaced by LED.
But what you will especially notice as a visitor are the new gargoyle ‘Inca gods’. “During the wild boat trip, the water really comes at you from all sides. Shortly after boarding you encounter the first new water gods. The mist from the mouths obscures your view of the water curtain in the distance.”
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They also continue to tease you towards the end of the attraction, for example there is a huge jet of water that shoots into the air and you come across a leaking aqueduct. “That water flows straight into your boat.”
Finally, there are two large Inca statues that block the journey with a wall of water. But it is good to know that the amount of water is adjusted to the season and temperature. “In the summer you get soaking wet and in the winter a little less.”
The maintenance of the Piraña is scheduled until the end of June.
We previously made a video about the construction of the new Efteling attraction. “Visitors are not safe anywhere,” the makers said at the time.
Efteling showed the first images of the park’s newest addition on Instagram on Tuesday.
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