Villa Volta: Efteling’s Spinning Haunted House
Villa Volta, located in the Marerijk section of Efteling, is a madhouse attraction that opened on April 4, 1996. Themed around the dark legend of the Bokkenrijders, a gang of 18th-century robbers, this attraction delivers an immersive experience where visitors feel as though they are flipping upside down inside a cursed house.
The Story
Designed by renowned Efteling creator Ton van de Ven, Villa Volta revolves around the story of Hugo van den Loonsche Duynen, a notorious leader of the Bokkenrijders. After looting the Postel Abbey, Hugo is cursed by a mysterious apparition. His house becomes enchanted, and only a pure soul can break the spell. This eerie legend forms the basis for the attraction, where visitors relive Hugo’s cursed fate in the villa.
The Experience
Guests enter the lavishly designed neoclassical villa and are guided through two preshows. In the first preshow, visitors learn about the legend of the Bokkenrijders through a haunting narrative. The second preshow features an impressive animatronic of Hugo himself, telling the tale of his ill-fated encounter with the supernatural.
Once in the main chamber—the enchanted living room—the true magic happens. The room starts to spin, creating the illusion that both the walls and floor are moving, when in reality, only the room is rotating around the visitors who are seated on benches.
Technical Marvel
Villa Volta was the world's first madhouse, an illusion-based ride where the walls spin around the guests. Designed by Vekoma in collaboration with Efteling, the attraction uses clever engineering and storytelling to create the sensation of turning upside down without ever leaving the ground. The ride also features a haunting soundtrack composed by Ruud Bos, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Legacy
Since its opening, Villa Volta has remained a fan-favorite, and it even won the prestigious THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement in 1997. The ride’s innovative design and strong thematic elements continue to make it one of Efteling’s most unique and beloved attraction.