Efteling’s Cure for the Winter Blues.
Our first year in the Netherlands was like being on a rollercoaster—minus the fun, with plenty of loop-de-loops in the dark.
Debts were mounting, and my meager salary barely covered the basics, let alone any adventures in Amsterdam or beyond.
I was buried in work, while Yoni was chasing his dream, only to find out it wasn’t quite the fairy tale he’d imagined.
And to top it all off, the winter seemed to stretch on forever, making every day feel like a survival mission rather than an exciting new chapter.
But then, in October 1996, a ray of sunshine in the form of Yoni’s youngest sister, Sigi, and her partner, Alon, arrived fresh off a six-month trek through South America. When you have guests, especially those who’ve just returned from a grand adventure, you can’t exactly keep them cooped up indoors.
So, off we went to show them the “7 Wonders of the Low Lands” or at least attempt to.
Thankfully, Sigi and Alon came armed with a list of must-see spots—places we hadn’t even visited ourselves yet!
The highlight? Our trip to Efteling, the Netherlands’ legendary amusement park that’s straight out of a storybook.
Imagine wandering through a world where fairytales, myths, fables, and folklore come to life.
Even though winter was nipping at our heels, we hit the jackpot with a day that was neither too cold nor too rainy, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the magic of the park.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that Efteling would soon become our secret weapon—our go-to destination whenever Thom was feeling anxious or restless.
A simple promise of a visit to Efteling was like a magic spell, instantly lifting her spirits.
But on that day, it was Yoni and I who rediscovered our inner child, laughing and playing without a care in the world.
