The Dutch resort has added a 12-metre family drop tower beside Baron 1898, extending its mine-themed area for younger guests.
Efteling has opened the Hooghmoed family drop tower at its theme park resort in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands. The new attraction opened on 1 May 2026 beside Baron 1898, giving younger guests a first step into the park’s thrill ride offer.
The opening is extending an established themed area, rather than creating a separate children’s zone. The Hooghmoed family drop tower shares the gold mine story and visual language of Baron 1898.
The story casts visitors as chimney sweeps working for Baron Gustave Hooghmoed. Their task is to clean the chimney of his gold smeltery. The Wailing Women then interfere with the ride, triggering the drop sequence.
The attraction consists of a gold smeltery setting with a 14.5-metre-high chimney. It has three drop towers, each standing 12 metres tall. Each tower carries ten riders, giving 30 seats per cycle.
Efteling says each tower has its own ride sequence of around 1.5 minutes. The maximum drop height is six metres. Sound, mist and smoke effects support the ride experience.
The Hooghmoed family drop tower is aimed at children from 90 centimetres tall. These guests must ride with someone at least 130 centimetres tall and aged 16 or above. The expected throughput is 600 guests per hour.
Efteling marked the opening with a ceremony featuring Dutch actress and singer Fenna Ramos. She performed ‘No One Can Bring Us Down’, a song written for the attraction’s launch.
Fons Jurgens, chief executive officer of Efteling, said: ‘By adding Hooghmoed to the area around Baron 1898, we are continuing to bring our vision to life: creating themed worlds where guests can truly step into another reality. Hooghmoed also contributes to a broader range of attractions for younger thrill-seekers in this area of Efteling.’
Image: Efteling
