Falcon is a steel roller coaster at Duinrell, the woodland amusement park and holiday resort in Wassenaar, on the Dutch coast between The Hague and Leiden. A Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter designed with legendary engineer Werner Stengel, Falcon opened on 14 May 2009 and gave the Netherlands its steepest coaster drop — a 97-degree beyond-vertical plunge.
Threaded between the park’s tall trees, the compact ride packs a vertical lift, three inversions and 4.5 g into just 42 seconds of ride time.
Key Stats
| Height | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
| Length | 361 m (1,184 ft) |
| First drop angle | 97° |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Max g-force | 4.5 |
| Duration | about 42 seconds |
| Capacity | 850 riders per hour |
| Manufacturer / model | Gerstlauer / Euro-Fighter |
| Opened | 14 May 2009 |
The Steepest Drop in the Netherlands
Falcon’s first drop is angled at 97 degrees — seven degrees past straight down — which makes it the steepest roller coaster drop in the Netherlands. Riders ascend the vertical chain lift on their backs, hang over the crest for a beat, then dive under themselves toward the forest floor. See how 97 degrees compares with the steepest roller coaster drops in the world.
The Ride Experience
At 361 metres, Falcon is short and dense. Off the drop it hits 70 km/h and immediately banks through a sequence of three inversions, pulling as much as 4.5 g before the brakes arrive around 42 seconds later. Single-car trains seat eight riders and keep the line moving at up to 850 guests per hour.
Blink and it’s over — Falcon is the opposite of the marathon rides on our list of the longest ride times at theme parks, and that intensity-per-second is exactly the point.
Visiting Duinrell
Duinrell is a family park and holiday village set in the dunes of Wassenaar, also famous for its Tikibad indoor water park. Falcon is the park’s thrill anchor, sharing the grounds with family coasters and classic Dutch fair-style attractions — an easy day trip from The Hague, Leiden or Amsterdam.
FAQ
How steep is Falcon at Duinrell?
Falcon’s first drop is 97 degrees — beyond vertical — and it is the steepest roller coaster drop in the Netherlands.
How tall and how fast is Falcon?
Falcon stands 22 metres (72 feet) tall and reaches 70 km/h (43 mph), with three inversions and forces up to 4.5 g.
When did Falcon open?
Falcon opened at Duinrell on 14 May 2009. It was manufactured by Gerstlauer and designed with Werner Stengel.
Photo: milst1 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)