#efteling theater | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

alex-the-nonsensologist · 1 year ago

Text

Disney Dreamland - Part 4: Fantasyland

(I had already posted about Mysteryland previously, which retroactively makes it Part 3. So we're moving on to the next part.)

Quite possibly the largest of the five lands, probably even beating out my mega-Adventureland.

Small World Gardens

Located behind Small World, this sprawling area would transition into Storybook Town Square. Flower arrangements inspired by Keukenhof in the Netherlands. Similar to Paris’s Fantasyland, there would be a couple rivers running through the garden with lovely bridges to cross over them.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant : The Masquerade Circus could be positioned near the Mysteryland/Fantasyland border so that the back of the tents could serve as a backdrop for the Dumbo ride, which would have its own little area in the gardens. I was at a loss on where else to place this ride, but I stubbornly wanted to include it as it is currently the only attraction to be found in all 6 existing castle parks and I didn't want to break that streak.

"Casey Jr. Circus Train": Doesn't have to specifically be Dumbo-themed, I just really want a cute novelty train to wind through the garden, with cute bridges to pass over the walkways and rivers.

“Swan Boats”: Paddle boats. I say “swan boats” but they don’t have to be just swans, but could also resemble other birds such as ducks, geese, and flamingos.

Symphony Gazebo: A gazebo in the garden for a live band to play classical music.

“Windmill snack stand”: I saw a picture of the Old Mill in Paris and thought it looked so charming. German pretzels.

Storybook Town Square

The town follows in the footsteps of Ananheim’s 1983 overhaul with each building having its own unique look. Would feature a fluid mix of Bavarian and British architecture. The Bavarian half of the town on the west contains “Pinocchio Square” and the theater. The British half on the east contains Peter Pan, Little Nemo (even though Nemo is American), and Mr. Toad. A large fountain stands in the center. Cobblestones would pave the ground. I want this area to evoke the feeling of Paris’s Fantasyland as well as Efteling in the Netherlands .

Pinocchio’s Daring Escape: Focuses more on escaping Pleasure Island. The only other thing I would change is have all the sets and animatronics appear to be carved out of wood, and have real clothes on the animatronics, for a more high-quality “hand made” look, the implication being the entire ride is a life-sized puppet show. The ride building along with the toy shop and restaurant form a smaller “Pinocchio Square”, which would include a smaller fountain with a statue of Pinocchio.

Geppetto’s Toy Shop: Would feature regular retail plush toys, as well as old fashioned toys like wooden marionettes and wind-ups, as well as cuckoo clocks. Christmas ornaments can also be purchased here.

Pinocchio’s Pizza Place: Italian cuisine. Basically the Pinocchio Village Haus in Orlando, but with an alliterative name, and also some of the pizzas have toppings decorated to look like Pinocchio smiley faces. Quick service.

Once Upon a Time Theatre: Hosts live indoor stage shows. While any show with Disney musical medleys is fine, I would much prefer original shows of rarely-featured stories, such as the other tales from the 1001 Arabian Nights, or a stage version of Disney's Return to Oz (which I personally love better as an Oz adaptation than MGM's movie; 2013's Oz the Great and Powerful was meh). Building design would be modeled after the new Fantasyland Forest Theatre in Tokyo.

“German restaurant”: Table service.

Flight to Neverland: Would utilize the best aspects from each version of the ride. For example, I love that Shanghai’s queue is themed to a London park (Kensington Gardens?), and the chimneys in Paris’s loading dock blow smoke. The building facade would definitely have a functioning clock tower, in homage to Big Ben, but designed to fit with the small town aesthetic. The name change is simply because I feel like guests actually take on the role of the Darling children more than they do Peter.

Little Nemo in Slumberland: Little Nemo may not be a Disney IP, but it has such rich and vibrant imagery, I think it could work really well as a Disney ride. Not to mention it’s in the public domain, so there shouldn’t be any legal issues. In many ways it’s very similar to Peter Pan’s Flight, so maybe it could also help balance the wait times between the two rides. Guests take on the role of Nemo and ride flying beds (or at least, benches that look like beds, with a headboard and a footboard) that soar out the bedroom window. What follows are awe-inspiring, almost surreal, scenes of Slumberland. Things start to distort and become chaotic as the dream turns into a nightmare. Before anything too awful happens, guests “wake up” back in Nemo’s bedroom while the voice of Nemo’s mother scolds us for eating before bed. For visual reference, I recommend the Osamu Dezaki pilot film that was created during the movie’s development, though I obviously wouldn’t put the giant Sauron eye in the ride.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: Orlando’s former double-track ride, but with Anaheim’s building exterior. I never got to experience this ride and I really want to.

Ever After Castle

Here it is, the traditional centerpiece of all Disney parks, now the centerpiece of Fantasyland instead. I personally think of most Disney castles as tall but not wide. This castle would be slightly different from the traditional Disney castle by taking up more ground space. I hate to sound blasphemous, but for this castle I’m thinking of something similar to Shrek’s Far Far Away Castle in Universal Singapore but with more detailed ornate decorations like Paris’ castle, and the outer walls slightly covered in ivy vines for a more inviting, homely look. It would also stand on top of an elevated foundation, surrounded by a moat. There would be a large courtyard in front of the main castle building, with the carousel placed in the center of it. The gift shop and the meet-and-greet are each placed on either the west or east side of the courtyard. The north of the courtyard would feature the restaurant on the ground floor, the entrance to the underground boat ride, and stairs to the second floor attraction.

Cinderella’s Carriage Carrousel: Regarding the visual design, I want it to look like the pumpkin carriage turned into a carousel. The canopy could include fiber optic fairy dust that lights up at night.

Be Our Guest Restaurant: French cuisine. I really like Tokyo’s Beauty and the Beast ride and would love to import it, but I respect the OLC’s exclusivity rights too much. I wondered if I could make it a combination ride and restaurant where each table is a ride vehicle, but I worried that would cause motion sickness which is a big no-no for a restaurant. At the very least, for my version I would love to have animatronics perform “Be Our Guest” every 30 minutes or so. Also, perhaps every hour, Belle and Beast performers would come out onto the dance floor and invite guests to waltz with them. Hot Take: The Grey Stuff is very obviously a savory food as it is clearly presented on a tray of hors d'oeuvres in the movie. But since the version currently offered in the parks has been imprinted in fans’ minds I think it’s best to offer two versions: Savory (chicken liver pate) as an appetizer and Sweet (cookies and cream) as a dessert.

Royal Meet-and-Greet: I personally do not care much for meet and greets, but for the people that do, here you can meet the Princesses, some of the Princes, as well as non-Princesses such as Giselle, Esmeralda, and TinkerBell.

Kingdom Treasures gift shop: Based on the Tokyo shop of the same name.

Crystal Caverns Canal: Boat ride underneath the castle. My first idea for this ride was basically Voyage to the Crystal Grotto from Shanghai, if all the character statues were built out of crystals and mosaic tiles. Then I realized, there’s probably too much IP already in the land, so I think there could be an original story about the crystals being a source of magic for the kingdom, and have scenes of wizards and fairies harvesting the crystals and creating experiments with them. Sort of a “tour of the workshop” kind of ride. I’m thinking of something with the same vibes as Dreamflight in Efteling.

Merlin’s Library / Yen Sid’s Library: Located on the second floor of the castle. Originally I wanted a ride in a similar vein to Symbolica in Efteling, but with a story like that of Mystic Manor in Hong Kong. Then I wondered if it would be feasible to have a ride in the second story, so I’m also okay with this being a walkthrough attraction. I feel either wizard could work here. Merlin is the more well-known wizard, but Yen Sid is easier to create an original backstory for. The basic gist of the attraction is you wander around a library with little vignettes of magical items operating on their own; a quill pen writing by itself, a large spell book turning its own pages, floating books sorting themselves on the shelves, etc. There could even be some interactive elements, such as paintings that change, or opening a book can project a scene “coming to life” and “escaping” the book.

Fairytale Gardens: Walkthrough garden. There would be lovely little vignettes scattered throughout, including Snow White’s wishing well, a giant beanstalk, and The Sword in the Stone placed in a little alcove in the castle’s outer wall. This would be outside the courtyard. Maybe off to the side, to the west, wrapping around the outer castle wall, next to Shadowland Forest.

Shadowland Forest

Inspired by the Black Forest of Germany, this area features spookier attractions. West of the castle, shares the border with Mysteryland and the Gravity Falls area. There would be plenty of fir, spruce, and pine trees to make it feel like an actual forest, maybe even hide some of the attractions from view.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures : Building facade would include the Evil Queen peeking out her window. I would place the building nearest to Storybook Town Square, at the edge of the forest.

“Gingerbread Factory Tour” : Based on my twisted Hansel and Gretel dark ride idea. Guests are given a tour of gingerbread golems at work (something like Tim Burton’s version of Wonka’s factory if it were more surreal and set in 1800s Germany), then are chased through obstacles, such as lollipop blades swinging from the walls, and peppermint stick darts, by Hansel and Gretel themselves. They’ve been very distrustful of adults after their parents abandoned them in the woods, and after the witch held them captive. They deem the guests harmless, and let them go but warn them to never come back.

Candy Carnival shop: The ride would exit into a shop themed to a candy carnival safe haven that Hansel and Gretel built for children lost in the woods. Would feature gingerbread treats and a nice selection of old-fashioned candies and German sweets. Guests can also watch bakers and candymakers at work. (Despite the name, there are no actual rides here, just animatronic decorations.)

Dragon Mountain: I wanted a unique “Mountain” ride, much like how the Matterhorn and Everest are unique to their parks. And dragons are cool. Originally this was going to be based on Maleficent, but now I’m leaning more towards an original story. And to put a neat spin on things, instead of a fire-breathing dragon, it would be a wintery ice dragon! I would also love it if the dragon was not portrayed as a mindless, violent beast hoarding treasure, but a parent protecting their child from intruders.

I initially wanted a sub-land recreating Halloween Town (with a spooky "Scare-ousel") but I felt Fantasyland was already overrun with too many IPs (and seven carousels is enough for one park), so here an area is set aside for seasonal Nightmare Before Christmas or Villains themed events, leaving the Haunted Mansion free during the holidays.

Disney Dreamland Railroad Fantasyland station: Styled after the ruins of a medieval castle. Located on the edge of the forest near Ever After Castle, next to the entrance to Winter Village.

Wonderland

East of the castle, on the border with Create-It-Land. While there would be plenty of natural green, there would also be an abundant mix of giant pink, purple, and turquoise “wildlife”, as seen in the initial scrapped concept art for Tokyo’s expansion. Giant mushrooms in place of benches, trees decorated with misleading signs, lamp posts that look like giant flowers. March Hare would definitely be included as a walk-around character alongside Hatter and Alice. People often forget the tea party took place at the Hare’s and mistakenly believe Hatter to be the host, and I will not stand for this March Hare erasure. I would also have plenty of card soldiers roaming around, “patrolling” the area.

Down the Rabbit-Hole: An upside-down funhouse with wonky mirrors, and trick doors galore! A hall of doors in the end would lead into the maze. I was thinking there could probably also be a madhouse ride portion where guests can experience the room actually turning upside down; inspired by Villa Volta in Efteling.

Wonderland Maze: As much as I like the Alice in Wonderland ride in Anaheim, I personally feel that Wonderland is a world that is best experienced up close and at your own pace, which a maze perfectly embodies. While the maze would obviously be themed to classic animated Alice like the Paris version, it would have different environments, like Shanghai’s Tim Burton version. First half of the maze would be a forest-like environment with giant plants and singing flowers. Second half would have rose bushes, fancy iron fences, and carved stone walls and statues for the Queen of Heart’s castle area. There would be a handful of tiny doors scattered throughout that guests can crawl through as shortcuts. Among the character statues scattered around the maze, I really want to include the Mock-Turtle and Gryphon, based on their designs from the Jell-O commercial, perhaps on a sandy beach shore by a small fountain / pond.

House of Cards Banquet Hall: Inspired by the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall in Tokyo. Would follow the same eccentric and colorful design scheme, but I want it to look like a stone castle made out of cards. Definitely would have lovely stained glass windows. Desserts include Royal Heart Tarts. They could also come in souvenir cups and plates like the ones found in Tokyo.

Mad Tea Party: Would have a canopy roof to protect from the weather and direct sunlight, but I also wouldn’t mind a stained-glass version. Or even a canopy made of trees. Teacup designs would be a mix of various patterns from all versions (except Orlando’s, I do not care for the zigzag scribbles). Would also include the giant teapot with the Dormouse in the center. To help with queue waits, I’d even have two ride systems, much like how Orlando doubled their Dumbo ride. One could even be themed to the Hatter while the other to the March Hare.

March Hare’s tea shop: Would have the same building design as March Hare Refreshments in Paris. Would sell several varieties of tea, Unbirthday Cake, and macarons. Could also feature a long table with interactive tea things to play with, like Shanghai does at the end of its maze, and plenty of fancy chairs for photo-ops.

Mad Hatter’s hat shop: Hats, Mickey ears, and other headgear. To match the March Hare’s chimney ears, this building would resemble a large top hat. Would also feature hat racks for photo-ops, like Shanghai does at the end of its maze.

100 Acre Wood

East of Town Square, on the border with Create-It-Land. A tiny little area with tall trees providing shade, a lovely little Poohsticks Bridge over a small river, and a cozy corner for a meet-and-greet with Pooh and friends.

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day: Basically the same as Pooh’s Hunny Hunt in Tokyo, which includes the giant book facade, and the same level of crafted detail and technical marvel throughout the ride, but with scenes added for the “rain, rain, rain”, and Pooh’s hero party as the ending. I would also use Anaheim’s zany color scheme for the Heffalumps and Woozles room with some added special effects for even more zaniness. The ride’s name change is just to both set it apart from the other versions, and because I realized with the exception of Pooh stuck in the honey tree, all the iconic scenes in the ride come from Blustery Day.

Pooh Corner gift shop: Also utilizes the same English cottage look as Tokyo’s.

Hunny Smackerels snack stand: Hunny Pot cupcakes, honeycomb, honey ice cream, and a separate cart for honey popcorn in lovely Pooh-shaped popcorn buckets. It would be really cute if the stand is actually inside a giant tree trunk, with a dutch door counter window for guests to order from.

The next three sub-lands would be behind Ever After Castle, outside the perimeter of the railroad tracks border. The entrance to Winter Village is between Shadowland Forest and the castle, while the entrance to Encanto Valley is between Wonderland and the castle. Mermaid Lagoon is directly behind the castle, between the other two sub-lands and only accessible through them. Small mountains would form berms for each sub-land. For reference, think of how Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, and Toy Story Land are arranged in Hong Kong.

Winter Village

Inspired by my Narnia theme park concept. This entire mini-land would be indoors, to have air-conditioning to sell the illusion of winter, and to preserve the artificial winter setup from the real-life elements outdoors. This mini-land would be round (roughly) so that the glass ceiling that lets in natural light can have a hexagonal snowflake design. At night time there’d be projections of Northern Lights. NOT Frozen themed. It’s a cute movie and all, but far overstayed its welcome before it was even released on DVD. Village would be a mix of Russian and Scandinavian architecture. Can be used for a Santa Claus meet-and-greet during Christmas.

Enchanted Snow Palace: The planned but never built ride based on Hans Christian Andersen’s Snow Queen. The concept art looks leagues better than the final product of Frozen Ever After.

“Winter Sleigh Ride”: Ride through winter scenery in sleighs pulled by reindeer. Technically a dark ride, since the entire subland is indoors, but feels like an outdoor ride.

"Snowball Arcade": I really wanted something to simulate snowball fights, but without the chaos and mess. Here, guests can throw snowballs at targets to win plush prizes.

"Russian cafe": Russian pastries and snacks

"Ice skating rink": Free if you bring your own skates.

Mermaid Lagoon

A scaled-down version of the land in Tokyo DisneySea, without the playground and kiddie rides. Like DisneySea, it would have a lovely seashell castle facade, with the attractions indoors. Unlike DisneySea, there would be a small lake in front with a ship restaurant docked on it.

“Under the Sea”: NOT a retelling of the movie, but instead an original story that would take place some time pre-movie. Follows Ariel on one of her outings as she explores the sea looking for new treasures to add to her collection. Final scene could be of Ariel in her grotto after completing her latest trip, but feeling unsatisfied as she wistfully looks at her collection, while instrumentals for “Part Of Your World” softly play in the background.

King Triton’s Concert Hall: Just like the one in Tokyo DisneySea, this would be a 360 degree show with Ariel “swimming” in midair above the audience, a giant animatronic Triton, performer puppets of Flounder and Sebastian, and other mixed special effects.

Undersea Carousel: Fish carousel. Underwater lighting effects and blows bubbles as it spins.

Ariel’s Grotto gift shop

Ship restaurant: Mediterranean seafood. I mean, it’s on a human ship that’s not technically in Triton’s Kingdom, so I think this gets a pass for serving fish. It could even be themed to Chef Louis for a laugh.

“Nighttime Water Show”: Just spitballing an idea, maybe the lagoon could also be used for a nighttime water show a la Fantasmic / World of Color. The viewing area could be across the lagoon from Triton’s castle; the lights of Triton’s castle would coordinate with the show.

Encanto Valley

A lovely recreation of the valley, with Casita and a little village area for shops and Colombian dining, and plenty of lush greenery.

La Casa Madrigal: I really like @rrdcooc’s idea for Casita as a walkthrough attraction! It’s so cool! Especially the ideas for Pepa and Luisa's rooms. I wouldn’t change much, aside from adding a few extra touches, such as an interactive flower wall in Isabela’s room that mimics guests’ silhouettes (like Daniel Rozin's "Mechanical Mirrors"), and maybe a couple themed flat rides to add capacity, such as a flowery swing spinner ride in Isabela’s room, and a tiny jungle animal carousel in Antonio’s room. In Dolores's room, guests can see sound waves (like that Magic School Bus episode), and Camilo's room can contain "mirrors" with different character models that mimic guests' movements in real time (like VTuber avatars). Also includes a gift shop selling “homemade” fashions and plush toys by Mirabel.

“Magic Realism Art Exhibit”: While I think the final movie is perfect, I would have loved it if Casita more closely resembled its concept art, which leaned much more heavily into magic realism. This attraction would be a walkthrough art exhibit full of giant optical illusion paintings that guests can pose in for photo-ops. For reference, I’m recalling the Trick Eye Museum, a temporary art exhibit I went to years ago in Hong Kong.

Encanto Sing-Along: I’m not always a huge fan of the “book report” shows they do in the Parks, but in this case, most of Encanto’s songs are so specific to the story that removing them from the context of the movie wouldn't work (especially in the case of fan favorite “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”). The stage can also be used for original Colombian performances, as well as from neighboring Latin American countries.

Julieta’s Arepas: Food cart. These arepas may not heal you, but they’re magically delicious!

Arabian Oasis (scrapped)

Before Encanto was released and became one of my favorite recent movies, my initial idea was to put in an Aladdin-themed area. Not an exact recreation of Agrabah, more like a broad strokes version of Agrabah in the same manner as Arabian Coast in Tokyo DisneySea.

Magic Carpet Ride: A suspension ride in a similar manner as Peter Pan’s Flight, using the carpet vehicles. Fly through the Agrabah marketplace, over the desert, and above the clouds. Ride music features instrumentals from “A Whole New World”.

Scheherazade’s Tales From the 1001 Nights: Stage show.

Flavors of Agrabah: Arabian / Middle-Eastern cuisine

Cave of Wonders gift shop: I think the theming is appropriate considering guests are exchanging money for goods and not stealing them (ideally).

Other parts:

World Galleria

Adventureland

Mysteryland

Create-It-Land

Discoveryland

#disney parks #disney dreamland #armchair imagineering #fantasyland #alice in wonderland #winnie the pooh #little mermaid #encanto #theme park design

15 notes · View notes

audiocult · 2 years ago

Text

Recently, the old puppet theater on the nostalgic Anton Pieck Square in Efteling themepark was reopened. Here, you can hear a variation of the newly written Anton Pieck music theme played on a barrel organ. Info: www.efteling.com

#rene merkelbach #composer #audiocult #wearecomposers #efteling #themepark

6 notes · View notes

musicalweb · 1 year ago

Text

0 notes

froy · 5 years ago

Photo

#bedanktGert, voor alle mooie zondagochtenden als kind, voor de fijne ontspanning rond 16u00 tijdens de bloknamiddagen in het middelbaar en in het hoger, voor de liedjes op cassette zodat we konden meezingen in de wagen op reis, voor alle spannende Kerstshows, de zomershows in de Efteling en in Plopsaland en voor de kers op de taart in deze afscheidsshow. Het was geweldig. Fijn te mogen opgroeien met Samson en jou. Samen met de burgemeester, Alberto, Van Leemhuyzen en Marie zullen we goed voor Samson zorgen, das beloofd. #30jaarSG #SamsonEnGert #SamsonEnGertAfscheidsshow (bij Studio 100 Pop-Up Theater) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6lTaw7JXr9/?igshid=1w9zmyegiuva1

#bedanktgert #30jaarsg #samsonengert #samsonengertafscheidsshow

2 notes · View notes

yasminaaboutaleb · 3 years ago

Text

Zwarte diamanten

de Volkskrant | 26 november 2021| Foto: Bart Grietens

Theatermaker Mathieu Wijdeven duikt in zijn solovoorstelling Het waarom beantwoord in het leven van zijn betovergrootvader G. G. T. Rustwijk. Zwarte helden zoals hij zijn volgens Wijdeven veel te vaak vergeten. ‘Alles wat uit Suriname kwam deed er niet toe.’

‘Een vergeten betovergrootvader ontdekken is al bijzonder. Maar dat je dan ook nog zo veel met hem gemeen blijkt te hebben, dat is magisch’, zegt theatermaker Mathieu Wijdeven (30). Hij kijkt naar een groot zwart object dat in de hoek van de foyer van Studio de Bakkerij in Rotterdam-Noord staat. Tijdens het interview over zijn zeer persoonlijke solovoorstelling Het waarom beantwoord doet hij dat wel vaker: even naar zijn betovergrootvader kijken. De majestueuze zwarte sculptuur die Wijdeven maakte is namelijk een beeltenis van hem. Het doet denken aan een zwarte diamant.

Wijdevens voorstelling, die vrijdag in Theater Rotterdam in première gaat, is een ode aan zijn betovergrootvader: de Surinaamse kunstenaar, dichter en theatermaker George Gerhardus Theodorus (G.G.T.) Rustwijk (1862-1914). Een vergeten Surinaamse held, vertelt Wijdeven, zoals zoveel zwarte helden die geen plek kregen in de koloniale geschiedschrijving. Wijdeven zelf had tot drie jaar geleden ook geen benul van het bestaan van zijn betovergrootvader. In Het waarom beantwoord reconstrueert hij de zoektocht naar zijn betovergrootvader, die daarnaast een zoektocht naar zijn eigen identiteit bleek te zijn.

‘Ik wist niets over Suriname’, vertelt Wijdeven. Ja, hij wist wel dat hij Surinaamse roots had. Zijn moeder is een Afro-Surinaamse vrouw (‘Als ze boos was, ging ze Surinaams praten’), zijn vader is een witte man. Klasgenoten en buitenstaanders vroegen er weleens naar; met zijn bruine huidskleur en grote bos krullen viel hij in een Brabants dorp nogal op. Desondanks voelde hij zich vooral Brabants.

De jonge theatermaker groeide op in Sprang-Capelle, een dorp naast de Efteling. Weilanden, heel veel oude schoenenfabrieken, het Halve Zolenfietspad. Dat vat het volgens Wijdeven wel zo’n beetje samen. Suriname voelde ver weg. ‘Ik had er als kind een sprookjesachtig beeld bij, door de verhalen van mijn moeder over haar jeugd daar. Ze vertelde bijvoorbeeld dat er een lange slang onder de kast in haar biologielokaal ‘woonde’. Als kind vond ik dat heel spannend, ik was doodsbang voor slangen.’

Wijdeven doorliep de toneelacademie in Maastricht. Het werd zijn handelsmerk dat hij bij wijze van vooronderzoek abstracte sculpturen maakt, waarmee hij vaak de straat op gaat om gesprekken te voeren met voorbijgangers. Wijdeven vormt met Nick Bos beeldend theatercollectief Firma Draak. Daarnaast speelde hij onder andere in voorstellingen van performancecollectief URLAND, regisseur Davy Pieters en Tryater. Afgelopen najaar was hij verantwoordelijk voor het decor in het veelgeprezen tv-programma In een boek kan het wél (VPRO), een theatrale ode aan vergeten verhalen, van schrijver Raoul de Jong.

Een jonge theatermaker met een druk bestaan dus. Maar toen drie jaar geleden zijn relatie met zijn vriendin stukliep, begon Wijdeven te twijfelen aan alles. ‘Ik zat in een diepe crisis. Ik lag maar op de bank en kon niets meer. Ik wist het allemaal niet meer: of ik nog op de goede weg zat met mijn theaterwerk, waarom ik het allemaal deed’, zegt Wijdeven. ‘Als ik eraan terugdenkt, krijg ik weer een brok in mijn keel.’

‘Soms hoeven twee zielen niet samen te komen. Soms ben je uit ander hout gesneden’, zei Wijdevens moeder, die naar Rotterdam was afgereisd om haar zoon te troosten. Ze merkte daarbij terloops op dat dit citaat van zijn betovergrootvader kwam die dichter en kunstenaar was. Dat zette Wijdeven aan het denken, de enige artistiekeling in een familie vol beta’s. De zoektocht naar wie zijn betovergrootvader was werd volgens Wijdeven een obsessie. ‘Ik vond het heerlijk om me erin te verliezen.’

Zijn moeder bleek slechts een dichtbundel van Rustwijk te hebben, Matrozenrozen (1914). Volgens haar de eerste dichtbundel door een Surinamer geschreven, maar meer wist ze niet. En dus wordt Wijdeven doorverwezen van het ene onbekende verre familielid naar het andere. Die blijken net als Wijdeven allemaal actief in de kunsten, zoals operazanger Anthony Heidweiller en regisseur Maarten van Hinte. Maar ook theatermaker Nina de la Parra blijkt familie. Zij is degene die hem uiteindelijk aanspoort van de zoektocht een voorstelling te maken.

Een oudtante geeft Wijdeven Het waarom beantwoord of het wee ontsluierd voor de welvaartscommissie, een door Rustwijk geschreven theatertekst die hij in 1911 als onemanshow in het Thalia Theater te Paramaribo, het oudste theater van Midden-Amerika, voordroeg. Het doel van de monoloog: bij de welvaartscommissie uit Nederland aandacht vragen voor de mensonterende omstandigheden waarin het gros van de Surinamers verkeren. Ook pleit hij voor het vieren van de afschaffing van de slavernij: ‘Ik roep u op en nodig u allen uit als één! Uw kolonie wil een feest voor de zoons en dochters van 1863!’ Keti Koti, zoals de herdenking en viering wordt genoemd, is in Nederland nog altijd geen nationale feestdag.

Het beeld dat in familieverhalen, krantenartikelen, foto’s en teksten van Rustwijk opdoemt, is dat van een gesoigneerd, uitgesproken en veelzijdig kunstenaar – er was weinig wat hij niet deed. Het opvallendste: hij was net als Wijdeven een enthousiast theatermaker, decorbouwer en beeldend kunstenaar. ‘Hij zat bij het grootste theatergezelschap van Suriname’, vertelt Wijdeven, ‘maar hij deed van alles in Thalia Theater. Hij was toneelmeester en maakte jeugdtheater. Hij schreef serieuze stukken, maar hij kon ook heel grappig zijn en trad op met gedichten op verjaardagsfeestjes. Maar hij knapte ook meubels op, hij moest gewoon geld verdienen.’

Eindelijk vallen voor Wijdeven dingen op hun plek. ‘Het voelde alsof ik hem kende’, zegt hij. Raoul de Jong, schrijver en daarnaast zijn buurman en dramaturg, heeft daar een verklaring voor: in het wintigeloof wordt gezegd dat een geest zeven generaties leeft. ‘De ontdekking dat mijn betovergrootvader theatermaker was en de meerwaarde en de lol daarvan inzag, gaf me een soort erkenning. Ik was altijd een buitenbeetje in de familie. Ze vonden het leuk dat ik mijn ‘passie’ volgde en ze hebben me altijd gesteund, maar alle neven gingen iets doen waardoor je uiteindelijk wel een auto hebt.’

Nog zo’n openbaring: de Black Lives Matter-demonstraties in de zomer van 2020. De Rotterdamse theatermaker had zich tot dan toe tijdens de pandemie verschanst in zijn kleine woning met al het onderzoeksmateriaal. ‘Ik kwam mijn huis niet uit, en ineens stond ik daar met al die mensen op de Erasmusbrug. Waar ik al die tijd mee bezig was, had ineens wereldwijd de aandacht. Het was een beetje spookachtig, als een pad dat zich ontwaart.’ Rustwijk gaf Wijdeven weer richting, hij beseft dat dit het soort verhalen is dat hij wil vertellen. ‘Door deze voorstelling ben ik me echt Surinaams gaan voelen, omdat het van een soort sprookje realiteit is geworden. Die kennis over je eigen wortels gun ik iedereen.

Alle Nederlanders zouden wat aan Rustwijks nalatenschap kunnen hebben, zegt Wijdeven. ‘Mensen zoals Rustwijk bieden een bodem om op te staan, want die duistere geschiedenis van de slavernij voelt soms bodemloos. Maar er waren mensen die streden’, zegt Wijdeven. ‘Rustwijk was een van de interessantste figuren in begin 1900, maar dat is een tijd waar niet veel interesse voor is. Er is wel aandacht voor de slavernij en voor verzetsstrijder Anton de Kom, maar daartussen zit een gat.’

Wijdeven denkt dat hij wel weet waarom: ‘Suriname is altijd gefocust geweest op Nederland, alles wat uit Suriname kwam deed er niet toe. Het hele Surinaamse onderwijs was gericht op Nederland. Daarom was er onlangs pas nieuwe interesse voor zo’n tentoonstelling als de Surinaamse School in het Stedelijk Museum (tot afgelopen zomer daar te zien, red.). Dat zijn allemaal kunstenaars die vroeger voor amateurs werden aangezien, alleen maar omdat ze Surinaams waren.’

Verzetsheld Anton de Kom werd vorig jaar als eerste Surinamer aan de canon van Nederland toegevoegd. ‘Hij werd van obscure Surinamer een nationale held’, zegt Wijdeven. Een status die ook Rustwijk verdient, vindt de theatermaker. ‘Rustwijk deed in zijn theatermonoloog zulke verregaande verzoeken voor emancipatie. Het is pijnlijk dat de welvaartscommissie er destijds niet was om zijn speech te horen. Dat voelt als iets wat ingelost moet worden.’

#interviews

1 note · View note

ilovetheater-nl · 2 months ago

Text

Efteling brengt theatervoorstelling rond sprookje Joris en de Draak

Efteling-bezoekers kunnen al sinds 2010 kennismaken met het sprookje van Joris en de Draak bij de gelijknamige houten raceachtbaan. Vanaf december 2025 is het populaire sprookje door heel Nederland te zien en horen. Dan reist de Efteling met de spannende familiemusical Efteling vertelt: Joris en de Draak langs diverse theaters in Nederland en België. Welke moedige burgers durven ten strijde te…

#Allard Blom #Efteling #efteling theaterproducties #Joris en de Draak #René Merkelbach

1 note · View note

pka13 · 6 years ago

Photo

Le pin’s #Caro et la clé USB #efteling 😊 @efteling (à Efteling Theater) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnwkn1nhR_n/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bilii6boqwpz

#caro #efteling

1 note · View note

audiocult · 6 years ago

Text

Al 100 keer theatershow CARO

21 april 2019 - Efteling Theater | Vandaag is Efteling-theatershow CARO voor de 100ste keer te zien in het Efteling Theater.

De voorstelling vol acrobatiek, bijzondere effecten, zang en dans is sinds de première in september 2018 bezocht door meer dan 75.000 bezoekers. Omdat CARO zonder gesproken tekst is, wordt de familieshow ook goed bezocht door internationale gasten uit de verblijfsaccommodaties van de Efteling. De ‘mallemolen van het leven’ wordt vooral goed bezocht door gasten uit de Europese landen. Maar ook gasten uit de Filipijnen, Polen en China (Hong Kong) dragen bij aan het mooie aantal van 75.000 CARO-bezoekers tot nu toe. De familieshow wordt erg goed gewaardeerd door alle nationaliteiten.

Het visuele spektakel CARO is exclusief te zien in het Efteling Theater. Meer informatie over de speeldagen en tickets.

De show duurt 75 minuten, zonder pauze.

bron: https://www.efteling.com/nl/blog/nieuws/20190421-100-keer-theatershow-caro

#rene merkelbach #audiocult #composers #wearecomposers #efteling #caro #efteling theater

0 notes

levindenboer · 7 years ago

Photo

En we gaan er weer iets moois van maken vandaag 💪🏻 #efteling #work #canon @canonnederland #stichtinglezenenschrijven #sles #kaatsheuvel (bij Efteling Theater)

#kaatsheuvel #work #stichtinglezenenschrijven #efteling #canon #sles

1 note · View note

musicalweb · 1 year ago

Text

0 notes

thomas-didymus-weber · 3 years ago

Photo

Family difficulties, problems with the neighbours, professional deadlines, renovations, etc. Yes, it has been a stressful couple of weeks... But this helps ( a little bit)... Fighting the #anxiety by having fun this #lazysunday making a new #puzzle from #janvanhaasteren . I really love this new #efteling inspired one full of little details... Even #antonpieck is included 😃🎉 #eftelingfan #presentformyself #fun #jumbopuzzle (bij Theater Didymus) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPxwoQ6BYNC/?utm_medium=tumblr

#anxiety #lazysunday #puzzle #janvanhaasteren #efteling #antonpieck #eftelingfan #presentformyself #fun #jumbopuzzle

1 note · View note

etiasvisaschengen · 4 years ago

Text

Netherlands Sightseeing: 40 Must-Visit Places in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is one of the most popular places to visit in Europe and for good reason. The city is known for its rich history, unique cultural scene, picturesque canal network, and of course, diverse tourist attractions.

Whether you want to go museum hopping or marvel at the architecture, Amsterdam offers something exciting and unique at every turn. To make the most out of your trip, check out these top 40 places you should definitely visit in Amsterdam!

Top 40 Places to Visit on Your Trip to Amsterdam

1. Rijksmuseum

If you want to learn Dutch arts and history, this national museum is the place to be!

Opened in 1885, Rijksmuseum currently displays around 8,000 objects. This includes antiques, medieval sculptures, traditional handicrafts, and artworks from renowned painters Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Veemer.

Did You Know? Aside from art, Rijksmuseum also houses an extensive collection of more than 35,000 books and manuscripts.

2. Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House pays tribute to Anne and her family who lived at the time of World War 2. It displays information about her life, her famous diary, and other memorabilia.

Visit this place in Amsterdam for an eye-opener and memorable experience.

3. Royal Palace Of Amsterdam

This is one of the three palaces in the Netherlands where the Dutch royalty lives. The palace remains open to visitors who want to see and experience the grandiosity of royal life.

Feel free to marvel at the architecture and lavish interiors while visiting!

4. Van Gogh Museum

Another must-see attraction in Amsterdam is the Van Gogh Museum.

The museum displays more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters from Van Gogh himself. It perfectly shows his extraordinary talent but it also makes you feel sorry for his tragic life.

Did You Know? Every year, 1.5 million visitors visit the Van Gogh Museum, further proving that it’s one of the best places to visit in Amsterdam!

5. Rembrandt House Museum

Van Gogh isn’t the only one who has a museum dedicated to his art.

Famous Dutch painter Rembrandt’s works are displayed in his former house, now known as the Rembrandt House Museum. The place features some of his great works and contemporary art pieces.

6. Jewish Historical Museum

Head over to the Jewish Historical Museum if you want to learn about Jewish history, religion, and culture.

The building dates back to 1670 and features a large collection of religious artifacts and artworks.

7. Stedelijk Museum

Stedelijk Museum is an international museum where you can admire modern and contemporary art. It is home to almost 90,000 artworks, including famous pieces made by Picasso, Rothko, Monet, and Warhol among many others!

8. National Maritime Museum

Interested in nautical history? Prepare to be blown away by the National Maritime Museum’s 18 rooms of exhibits and artifacts. Each one details how the Dutch dominated the seas back in the 1600s.

Tip: Don’t leave this museum without seeing the replica of Amsterdam, an 18th-century ship that sailed the East Indies.

9. NEMO Science Museum

This world-class science center features 5 floors, each filled with interactive exhibits that can appeal to both kids and adults.

The NEMO Science Museum also includes a playground, a museum shop, and a rooftop café where you can enjoy the views of the city.

10. Museum of the Tropics

Founded in 1864, the Museum of the Tropics features art and everyday objects from the Netherlands’ former colonies. This attraction can fascinate anyone with an interest in the country’s history.

11. West Church

Westerkerk (West Church) is the largest church in Amsterdam. It is famous for its Renaissance architecture as well as its bell tower which is regarded as the city symbol.

Tip: For a truly unique experience, climb up the bell tower to enjoy the sweeping views of Amsterdam.

12. Vondelpark

Vondelpark is the largest and most popular park in Amsterdam. It features several restaurants and cafés, an open-air theater, a skate rental shop, and a rose garden.

You can easily spend your day here without feeling bored!

13. Sloterplas

Head over to Sloterplas Lake for an exciting water adventure in Amsterdam! Here, you can enjoy canoeing, sailing, and even water cycling. But you’re also free to walk, jog, or bike along the promenade.

14. Bloemenmarkt

The Bloemenmarkt (Floating Flower Market) is one of the unique places to visit in Amsterdam. Don’t leave the market without buying freshly cut blooms (preferably tulips) for which the Netherlands is famous!

15. Tulip Museum

For those who want to know the history behind the Netherlands ’ national flower, you can visit the Tulip Museum in Amsterdam.

It showcases the history of tulips through pictures. There’s also a flower shop by the entrance!

16. Amsterdamse Bos Park

If New York has Central Park, Amsterdam has Amsterdamse Bos Park.

Spend the day here where you can simply relax, take a walk, ride a bike, have a picnic, and so much more.

Did You Know? Amsterdamse Bos is approximately three times the size of New York’s Central Park.

17. Efteling Park

Do you prefer something exciting instead? Visit Efteling Park in Amsterdam.

This amusement park features a large number of theme rides and attractions based on Dutch fairy tales and legends. You’ll surely have a blast riding every one of them!

18. Amsterdam Dungeon

For those who are a little daring, head over to Amsterdam Dungeon.

This tourist attraction transports you inside a church where you can learn over 500 years of Dutch dark history. It’s definitely not the place for the faint of heart!

19. Canal Belt

Don’t leave Amsterdam without exploring the Canal Belt and getting to know the history behind the city’s network of canals.

This is one of the most attractive neighborhoods in Amsterdam, even earning its place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list!

20. Begijnhof

Situated in the center of Amsterdam’s circular canal system, Begijnhof is a must-visit district in the city. It is home to the English Reformed Church and the city’s oldest preserved wooden house.

21. Dam Square

This is one of the best places to go sightseeing and people-watching in Amsterdam. It is also conveniently located near the city’s most famous attractions so you can easily start your tour here.

22. National Monument

On the opposite side of the Dam Square is the National Monument. It is a spectacular 22-meter-high obelisk that serves as a memorial for the victims of the Second World War.

23. Oude Kerk

Oude Kerk, or Old Church, is the oldest structure in Amsterdam. It was originally built in 1306 as a Catholic church. Today, it is a center for contemporary art and heritage.

24. Nieuwe Kerk

Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) is another impressive building in Amsterdam. It is currently the church with the highest order in the city. It also hosts several public functions such as antique fairs and art exhibitions, every year.

25. Torensluis Bridge

Torensluis Bridge is one of the most spectacular sights in Amsterdam. It is one of the oldest bridges in the city where tourists can enjoy a quick stroll and watch exhibitions that take place on the bridge.

26. Westergas

What used to be a gasworks in Amsterdam is now a lively meeting point for all kinds of culture.

Here, tourists can find a wide range of cultural expressions from film and photography to theatre and performance among many others.

27. Artis Zoo

For those who are animal loves, you’ll surely enjoy a day at the Artis Zoo! You can see all your favorite animals here including elephants, giraffes, zebras, and lions among many others. There’s even a museum dedicated to microbes to pique your interest!

Tip: The zoo is open every day but Saturday is the best time to go. You can enjoy special performances and music!

28. Hortus Botanicus

Not really an animal lover? You can visit this place instead. Hortus Botanicus is one of the world’s oldest botanical gardens. Here, you can find a myriad of plant species and some animals that would surely fascinate you.

29. IJ-hallen

Want to go shopping? Head over to IJ-hallen, the biggest and most unique flea market in Europe! Don’t leave the place without buying second-hand items such as clothing, accessories, furniture, and more.

30. De Negen Straatjes

Another great place for shopping in Amsterdam is De Negen Straatjes (The Nine Streets).

It consists of nine side streets in the city, hence the name, where you can enjoy historical architecture and old-world charm on top of the shopping scene.

31. Albert Cuyp Market

Albert Cuyp Market is one of the Dutch’s favorite street markets. Here, you can find plenty of clothes, souvenirs, and delicacies at an extremely cheap price!

32. Het Schip

For those who want to marvel at unique architecture, go to Het Schip in Amsterdam. This residential building features the only example of Brick Expressionism architecture style. There’s also a lovely cafe and a museum souvenir shop in the area.

33. Concertgebouw

Concertgebouw is one of the finest concert halls in the world. It features an impressive organ, amazing orchestra music, and world-class performances. This is truly one of the best places to visit in Amsterdam if you love music!

34. De Wallen

Whether you want to experience something new or you’re just simply curious, De Wallen is a place you shouldn’t miss.

This is Amsterdam’s infamous red-light district which is surrounded by old-school bars, single room apartments, and “coffee” shops.

Tip: Dutch police regularly patrols the area so don’t be scared to roam around this neighborhood!

35. Leidseplein Square

For the best nightlife in Amsterdam, head over to Leidseplein Square! Here, you can find a vast range of bars and pubs that serve different European beers. You can also come across street performances and stand up comedy skits in this square.

36. Heineken Brewery

If you are a beer enthusiast, you should not pass up on the opportunity to visit Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam. You can learn more about the art of beer-making by taking a tour around the brewery.

37. Rozentheater

Want to experience a lively night out in Amsterdam? Instead of drinking, you can head over to Rozentheater to watch improv comedy shows. You’ll surely have a blast with the hilarious antics of the cast!

38. EYE-Film Museum

For the film buff, the EYE-Film Museum is the place to be! Here, you can watch screenings of both Dutch and international films. This is one of the best ways to learn more about the history and art behind filmmaking.

39. De Bakkerswinkel

Craving for a delicious piece of cake? Head over to De Bakkerswinkel which is situated on one of the oldest streets in the city. It is a quaint café known for its cakes, quiche, brioche, tea, and coffee.

40. Foodhallen

Don’t leave Amsterdam without visiting Foodhallen! This vast indoor food market features a wide variety of cuisine around the world that would satisfy your taste buds. Must-try dishes include fried dumplings, falafel pitas, and spinach bitterballs.

6 Essential Travel Tips When Visiting Amsterdam

To make the most out of your trip in Amsterdam, remember these essential travel trips!

1. Prepare for the Weather

Weather in Amsterdam can be pretty unpredictable. During the summer, occasional rain showers should be expected while in fall, it ranges from freezing cold to sweltering heat.

To be safe, pack an umbrella and some jackets so you can easily adapt to the ever-changing weather.

2. Bring a Universal Travel Adapter

In addition to the proper clothing, you also need to bring along a travel adapter to charge your devices.

This is due to the fact that the Netherlands uses type C and F electrical plugs instead of type A or B in the United States.

3. Get an Amsterdam Travel Pass

If you’re looking to enjoy the best of Amsterdam, then consider investing in an Amsterdam Pass.

The card grants you free access to over 30 attractions in the city! This can help you save a lot of money, depending on the length of your stay.

4. Mind the Cyclists

Cycling is pretty popular in Amsterdam. Everywhere you look, you’ll find locals and tourists alike riding a bike.

So, always observe your surroundings when crossing the road or walking along a busy promenade.

5. Rent a Bike

With that said, you should definitely try biking for yourself. You can easily explore the city’s tourist spots by doing so! Plus, you don’t have to take the public transpo which is pretty expensive.

6. Explore Beyond Amsterdam

Your trip to the Netherlands should not be limited to Amsterdam. Feel free to explore beyond the capital city and you’ll be surprised by the amazing wonders the other towns offer!

From world-class museums and architecture to a unique shopping scene and lively nightlife, Amsterdam offers a wide variety of attractions that can satisfy every kind of tourist.

ALSO READ: 10 Must-Visit Party Cities in Europe for the Best Nightlife Experience

Want to visit these tourist spots in Amsterdam? Make sure you have your ETIAS Visa waiver ready if you’re travelling by 2021.

The E.U. Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is an important authorization process for visitors to the Schengen zone in Europe. It has been introduced to keep all of residents and visitors alike safe.

For more information about ETIAS, contact us today! We are a non-government organization that offers ETIAS visa assistance for tourists who are planning to visit Europe.

Liked this infographic? Visit our news page for more travel inspiration.

The post Netherlands Sightseeing: 40 Must-Visit Places in Amsterdam appeared first on ETIAS VISA Schengen.

Article source here: Netherlands Sightseeing: 40 Must-Visit Places in Amsterdam

0 notes