Over the next 18 months, Efteling theme park in the Netherlands will be investing around €30m ($32.3m) in the construction of a new holiday village.

The site – which borders the theme park, Efteling Golf Park and the Loonsche Land nature district – will feature central facilities and holiday homes designed to be compatible with the district’s natural surroundings.

Preparation work will begin before the end of this year and the first guests are expected to be welcomed in the early part of 2017.

Through a programme of phased growth over the coming years, Efteling said it is aiming to become an international destination with five million visitors per year by 2020.