Theme park Efteling has announced plans to transform the area surrounding The Chinese Nightingale (De Chinese Nachtegaal) in its iconic Fairytale Forest. The project will introduce the park’s 32nd fairytale attraction, called the Fairytale Library (Sprookjesbibliotheek), while The Chinese Nightingale will return nearby in a new form.

The Chinese Nightingale has a long history within the park. It was one of the original ten fairytales when the Fairytale Forest opened in 1952, initially depicted as a small bird on a branch beside a wall with flowering rocks. That version was replaced in 1979 by Draak Lichtgeraakt. The current incarnation, designed by Ton van de Ven, opened in 1999 as one of the last fairytales he created for the park.

According to Efteling, the building housing the attraction has deteriorated to the point where a decision was necessary: either a full reconstruction or a reimagining of the area. The park has opted for the latter, stating that the original ten fairytales will always have a place in the Fairytale Forest and that The Chinese Nightingale will return in what it describes as a fitting and respectful manner.

The nearby Ornamental Garden (Siertuin), which has also been part of the Fairytale Forest since 1952, will be preserved. The garden, situated between De Tuinman en de Fakir and the forest’s exit, features a gazebo, various statues, a pond with large koi, and a waterfall flowing beneath a small bridge.

Construction is scheduled to begin on 9 March 2026. Visitors can experience the current version of The Chinese Nightingale and the Ornamental Garden until 8 March 2026, after which the area will be closed off. The new Fairytale Library is expected to open in 2027.

Cover image courtesy of Efteling.