Kaatsheuvel: Efteling, Walking Trails and Local History

Kaatsheuvel offers several distinct reasons to visit: the Efteling theme park, walking and hiking trails, and architectural and industrial history. If you are looking for a hotel in Kaatsheuvel, your travel priorities can help determine where you go: would you mainly like to visit Efteling, spend time on the trails, or learn more about the town’s history? The following sections explore these perspectives through specific places and activities.

Efteling as a reason to visit

The Efteling theme park is located in Kaatsheuvel and officially opened on 31 May 1952. In the Fairytale Forest, visitors walk from one fairy tale to the next; along the way, they encounter gnomes, princesses, enchanted swans and dancing fairies, among others. Efteling offers attractions for young children, the whole family and visitors seeking adventure. The Efteling Museum displays objects from the past and present, as well as sketches by Efteling designers. This brings together fairy-tale characters and insights into objects and designs as different facets of the Efteling experience.

Walking and hiking trails

The trails around Kaatsheuvel vary in landscape, route and theme. The 5.5-kilometre Roestelberg walking route near Kaatsheuvel is marked with yellow arrows and passes through drifting sand, heathland and forest. Rondje Efteling is a walking route around the Efteling theme park that passes through Het Loonsche Land. The Oude Eftelingsestraat walking route runs along a stately, tree-lined avenue.

The old Kerkpaadje once served as the shortest route to the church and ran through fields and polders. Another option is the free Spreekwoordenroute Kaatsheuvel, which is mainly aimed at groups with children aged six to twelve. The trails differ in specific ways: Roestelberg’s length and markings are stated, Rondje Efteling goes around the park, and the Spreekwoordenroute is aimed at a particular age group.

Architectural and industrial history

Among the town’s cultural and historical landmarks is St. John’s Church, one of Kaatsheuvel’s Rijksmonumenten (national heritage monuments). Street names also point to the town’s past: Eftelingsestraat is many centuries old. It was named after the hamlet of Efteling, located south of the street, which had existed there since the 14th century. The old Kerkpaadje adds another element to the town’s history: a former route through fields and polders.

The shoe industry is another area of interest. The old Stocko shoe factory on Rechtvaart is the only surviving factory of this size in Kaatsheuvel. Schoenfabriek Stokkermans is one of the last remaining traces of Kaatsheuvel’s shoe industry history. A guided tour of Kaatsheuvel covers the history of the leather industry. The subject can therefore be explored both through surviving factory buildings and through a tour with a historical focus.

Practical information

The Toeristisch Informatiepunt Kaatsheuvel at Primera provides visitor information, tips, brochures, magazines, and various cycling and hiking maps. There is parking directly at the entrance to Efteling. These services offer different practical pointers for planning your trip: information and maps for your stay in the destination, as well as specific parking information for the theme park.

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