Joris en de Draak Efteling: Height, Ride Type & Tips

What Joris en de Draak is

Joris en de Draak is a duelling wooden roller coaster in which two tracks run alongside each other, so riders on one side race riders on the other. The park built it on the site of Pegasus, the wooden coaster removed in 2010, and chose a twin-track design that doubles capacity while turning each lap into a contest. The layout is compact and fast, with the two trains shadowing each other for much of the circuit.

For orientation, the coaster sits in Efteling's Reizenrijk area, which also holds the flying island and a cluster of family rides. If you are still mapping the park, our Efteling guide covers how the realms connect and which ones to group into a single circuit.

Ride type and key statistics

Great Coasters International built the ride, and it opened in 2010. The figures give a clear picture of what to expect: a 22-metre lift hill, a 790-metre circuit, a top speed of 75 km/h and no inversions at all. Four trains carry 24 passengers each, which is the main reason the queue tends to move steadily.

Because there are no inversions, the thrill comes from speed, airtime and the sensation of racing another train a few metres away. Riders who avoid loops but enjoy a proper coaster often rate this higher than the park's tamer family coasters. If you want to compare it with Efteling's big steel dive machine, Baron 1898 at Efteling in the same park shows how a very different ride profile feels.

Height limits by seat

Joris en de Draak does not use one height limit for the whole train. Children from 110 cm may ride in the middle four rows, while the four front rows and the four rear rows require a minimum of 1.20 m. That distinction matters when you are travelling with a child who sits between the two figures, because the choice of seat decides whether they can board at all.

The practical consequence is a queue decision rather than a height decision. With a shorter child, aim for a middle-row seat and expect the front and back rows to be closed to them. Measured heights are checked at the entrance, and the park's own height chart for each ride is the reference to carry with you. Efteling tickets bought in advance are dated, so sorting out which rides your group can share is worth doing before you pick a day.

Fire versus Water: how the two tracks differ

The two trains represent Fire and Water, and they are not identical in character. Fire is the more family-oriented of the pair, while Water comes across as punchier, with hills packed closer together and a snappier rhythm. Riders who want a gentler introduction should start on Fire; those chasing a sharper ride should pick Water.

Riding both is the way most visitors settle the argument, and the coaster's throughput makes that realistic within a single day. Treat them as two separate credits rather than one ride: the sensation differs enough that families often split up and compare notes afterwards. The duel itself, with the trains chasing each other through the structure, is the part both sides share. If you are weighing other Dutch parks with duelling or twin-track coasters, our Walibi Holland guide covers how its thriller rides compare.

Who the ride suits

Older children who have outgrown the park's gentler powered coasters are the core audience, along with teenagers and adults who want a traditional wooden coaster experience. Families with children below 110 cm should skip it entirely and split the group, since there is no seat option for them. Thrill-seekers can pair it with the park's other big rides for a full circuit of the Efteling rides.

Travelling from outside the Netherlands is straightforward, as Efteling sits at Kaatsheuvel in North Brabant, within easy reach of the Belgian border. Visitors often combine the park with a couple of nights nearby, so our Efteling breaks article covers how a short stay fits around a coaster-focused day.

Queue patterns and ride order

Four trains of 24 passengers give Joris en de Draak high capacity, so waits are more likely to sit in the moderate range than to balloon to the worst in the park. In practice, that makes it a forgiving ride to slot in later in the day rather than a rope-drop dash. The opening hours and operating calendar change through the year, so plan your arrival around the published calendar for your date.

If you want to ride both Fire and Water back to back, queue once and then rejoin for the second side rather than trying to switch tracks from the platform. Building the coaster into a loop of nearby attractions keeps walking to a minimum, and the area's family rides give non-riding members of the group something to do. On wet or windy days, check how outdoor coasters are affected with our Efteling Weather and Rain Plan before committing the afternoon to it.

Accessibility and riding with children

Because the height rule differs by row, the staff check at the entrance is the moment to say which rows your group needs. If the child in your party qualifies only for the middle rows, ask before boarding so the seating can be arranged without holding up the platform. Rider swap lets one adult wait with a child too small to ride while the other rides, then switch, which is the usual way families with mixed ages handle it.

Riders with mobility needs should consult Efteling's accessibility information for boarding arrangements specific to this coaster, since wooden coasters vary in how transfer works. Arriving early in the day gives you more time to use rider swap before the afternoon build-up, and it also leaves room to explore gentler areas such as the Fairytale Forest with younger members of the group.

Nearby rides and how the coaster fits into an Efteling day

Joris en de Draak works best as the anchor of an afternoon in Reizenrijk rather than a standalone stop. The park's dark rides offer a quieter contrast, and our Efteling map and areas article shows how to route between them without backtracking. Building a loop around one realm at a time is the most reliable way to keep a family day moving.

If you are staying on site, the Efteling hotels make an early start simpler, which helps when the group wants to cover both this coaster and the bigger headline rides in one day. Guests staying over also tend to spread the park across two days, giving more room for repeat laps on both Fire and Water.

Where to find current opening hours

The coaster operates when the park does, and Efteling publishes its calendar with opening hours and ride closure notices on its own website. Check that calendar for your date rather than relying on seasonal assumptions, particularly around the park's event periods. Maintenance windows also appear there, which is the only reliable way to know whether a specific coaster is scheduled to run.

Plan Your Ride on Joris en de Draak

Treat Joris en de Draak as two rides rather than one: clear the seating rule by knowing your group's heights, pick Fire for an easier first lap and Water for a sharper run. Its high capacity means you rarely need to sprint to it at opening, so build it into a relaxed circuit of the surrounding realm. Confirm the day's hours on Efteling's official calendar, then plan the rest of your route around it.