Where his childhood found its way to our family

Some places hold memories. Others hold pieces of who we once were.

For my husband, the Netherlands will always be one of those places.

He spent a large part of his childhood growing up there, and whenever he talked about those years, one place always seemed to feature in the stories: the Efteling. More than just a theme park, it was part of his childhood and family memories.

So in 2024, we decided it was time to share that part of his life with our own children.

We flew into the Netherlands, hired a car, and stayed in a beautiful little village not far from the park. The following morning we woke to one of the most breathtaking sunrises we had ever seen. Purple skies stretched across the horizon and reflected perfectly in the canals outside our window. It felt like the Netherlands was welcoming us back.

The country has a calmness about it. The neat villages, the waterways, the bicycles everywhere, and the slower pace of life make it feel very different from home. It is a place where people seem connected to the outdoors, whatever the weather, and where family living feels cleaner.

We spent two wonderful days at the Efteling.

Efteling feels as though it has grown from old European folklore and fairy tales. Hidden amongst the trees are enchanted forests, talking characters, castles, and stories that have delighted generations of children. Walking through it, you can understand why it left such a lasting impression on my husband all those years ago.

One tradition we especially loved involved the toadstool seats dotted around the park. Families often take photographs of their children there each time they visit, creating a visual record of them growing up through the years. I loved the thought of that, children returning again and again, changing a little each time while the park remains part of their story.

We hired little trollies to pull the children around and spent our days exploring. There were rides, laughter, Dutch treats, and of course traditional Dutch pancakes, which quickly became a family favourite.

But my favourite part of the trip wasn’t any particular attraction.

It was watching my husband experience everything again through our children’s eyes.

Every corner seemed to unlock another memory. A path he remembered. A ride he had loved. A story he had heard as a child. The years seemed to disappear for a moment as he shared those memories with our children, who were discovering them for the very first time too.

Later in the trip, we visited the area where he had grown up.

The children played in the same park where he had once played. They ran across the same spaces, laughed in the same places, and unknowingly followed in his footsteps. Watching that felt surprisingly special. Childhood can often feel so distant, yet here it was connecting two generations in the most natural way.

One day we embraced another Dutch tradition and hired bicycles. The children were strapped safely onto the back while we cycled for miles through the countryside. It was fun, although our youngest eventually fell asleep on the bike, completely exhausted by the day’s adventures. Somehow that became one of the moments we laughed about most afterwards.

And then there was our final morning.

As we prepared to leave the village, a hen was sitting squarely in the middle of the road, completely unbothered by the fact that anyone might want to drive through. It refused to move, as though it had decided our leaving was happening far too soon.

Eventually, I got out, carefully picked it up, and carried it somewhere safe.

It felt like the perfect ending to a trip that had been full of unexpected little moments.

When we first planned the holiday, we thought we were taking our children to see a theme park.

What we actually gave them was a glimpse into their father’s childhood.

And in doing so, we created memories that now belong to all of us.