Volk van Laaf houses refurbished in every detail

Efteling theme park in Kaatsheuvel has been the Netherlands' biggest tourist attraction for years. Every year, more than five million visitors are amazed by its unique attractions and stories. And by the attention Efteling pays to the theming; every detail is just right.

Good maintenance is the key to Efteling magic

To maintain the enchanting atmosphere and the high standard of theming, proper maintenance is essential. The Planning & Management department is responsible for this. Asset manager Hein Oomen: “We plan annual maintenance, draw up multi-year programs, and prepare large, technically complex projects. These are then carried out by a project team. We ensure that all attractions keep running, remain safe, and look aesthetically pleasing.”

Flexible renovation with an eye for visitors

The Laaf houses are no exception. The village is undergoing a renovation over a period of five to six years. New thatch on the roofs, freshly painted facades, new greenery, and replacing old paving bricks with new ones. “It is important to us that our guests can still stay in the area during the work. That’s why we tackle two or three houses at a time, and three-quarters of the area remains open and accessible,” says Hein.

The added value of external project management

As a project manager from Embera, Dennis Bakker supports the Planning & Management department. Together with Efteling staff, he has spent the past year and a half working on the renovation of the Lurk & Limoenhuys, Lot’s Kraamhuys, Glijhuys, and Lachhuys. “It’s great working with Dennis. His meetings are to the point. He provides structure, overview, and insight,” says Hein.

For every renovation project, Hein and Dennis start with a walkthrough. “In it, we discuss what was planned on paper. Dennis has a good feel for what is needed and understands our way of thinking. A similar walkthrough takes place just before completion, where there is plenty of room for final improvements. During the renovation of the Lurk & Limoenhuys, we discovered that two benches were unpainted. Although this was outside the original scope, it was clear to both of us that this small adjustment would make a big difference to the overall look. Dennis is very flexible in that regard and gets to work immediately.”

For major questions during execution, the project team always consults with Hein. “That always happens in an open atmosphere, where we listen to each other’s ideas and make the choices that are best for the project. The principle is: what we do, we do well. You can see that as a guest.”

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