The story of Toverland’s growth is marked by several milestones over the past 22 years. From its humble beginnings as a small indoor amusement park to the opening of new outdoor areas, the theme park in Sevenum, Netherlands, continues to amaze its guests with exciting new offerings.
In 2018, the park opened Avalon, an outdoor area, along with a new entrance named Port Laguna, both of which could be considered the park’s most ambitious investments to date. Avalon introduced two rides expanding the park’s ride lineup: a Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) wing coaster named Fēnix, and Merlin’s Quest, a family boat ride from Mack Rides. The park’s first table service restaurant, The Flaming Feather, completed Avalon … until 2023. Not yet content, the park’s leadership team decided the area wasn’t finished and began brainstorming.
“There wasn’t enough movement; there were not enough different experiences. The area was amazingly beautiful, but guests were finished with the area very quickly,” Park Director Jean Gelissen Jr. explained to the crowd that gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Avalon’s expansion. “In 2019, we decided Avalon can use more theming, more movement, more attractions.”
This summer’s expansion includes four new rides. The first addition, named Pixarus, is a dynamic Skyfly model delivered by Gerstlauer that is built inside the ride track of Fēnix. Guests can choose to keep their ride aboard Pixarus mild or wild by keeping their ride vehicle upright or turning it upside down. A pair of wings allows experienced riders to catch the wind needed to make loops. Scores displaying how many loops were achieved by riders can be reviewed upon exiting the ride.
The tallest of the four new attractions is Dragonwatch, an Intamin Parachute Tower. Offering a tamer experience than a traditional drop tower but a more exciting version of an observation tower, Dragonwatch appeals to Toverland’s family-friendly demographic. Most interesting for younger visitors is Jumping Juna, a new Zamperla Jump Around sporting custom ride cars. Garden Tour by Metallbau Emmeln is the fourth new ride, which features vehicles on a track that travel through Merlin’s garden.
Next to the new rides, a playground for toddlers and a water playground now reside near The Flaming Feather restaurant. Also notable is the addition of Waterdwarf Alley, a small village with several tiny houses hosting whimsical creatures and their visitors.
With the expansion of Avalon, Toverland improved what was already an impressive themed area. In 2022, the park exceeded one million visitors and with this season’s expansion, Jean Gelissen Jr. says he is confident that 2023 attendance figures will be even better.
Ignace Woinin is the membership manager at IAAPA's Europe, Middle East, and Africa office in Brussels. He loves themed attractions, riding new roller coasters, and meeting IAAPA members. Contact him here.
