Deep in the Ruigrijk region of the Netherlands’ fairytale park Efteling, two wooden trains charge out of a medieval station side by side — one for Water, one for Fire — racing to slay a dragon. Joris en de Draak (“George and the Dragon”) is a dueling wooden racing coaster from Great Coasters International that opened on July 1, 2010, and it remains one of Europe’s most beloved woodies.
Key Stats
| Height | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Drop | 79 ft (24 m) |
| Speed | 47 mph (75 km/h) |
| Length (per track) | 2,657 ft (810 m) |
| Tracks | 2 racing tracks: Water & Fire (Vuur) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | approx. 2:00 |
| Type / Model | Wood – Racing coaster |
| Manufacturer | Great Coasters International |
| Opened | July 1, 2010 |
| Cost | €13,000,000 |
| Trains | 4 Millennium Flyer trains × 24 riders |
| Capacity | 1,750 riders per hour |
| Height requirement | 110 cm (3 ft 7 in) |
| Park | Efteling, Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands |
The Legend of Saint George
Efteling built its reputation on storytelling, and Joris en de Draak is no exception. The €13 million coaster is themed to the legend of Saint George, the knight who slays a dragon — and the park made the dragon real. Between the two tracks lurks a 12-metre-high (39 ft) fire-breathing animatronic dragon created by theming specialists P&P Projects, rearing up at the racing trains as they thunder past. The coaster replaced Pegasus, the park’s previous wooden coaster, which stood on the same spot.
Water vs. Fire: The Race
Joris en de Draak is a true racing coaster: two mirrored wooden tracks, Water and Vuur (Fire), leave the station simultaneously and duel over 810 metres of track apiece. Both sides share identical stats — a 25-metre-tall structure, 24-metre first drop and a 75 km/h top speed — so the “winner” comes down to train weight and a bit of luck, which is exactly what keeps riders coming back to try the other side. GCI’s low-slung Millennium Flyer trains, each seating 24 riders in twelve two-across rows, give the layout its signature whippy, out-of-control feel. With four trains cycling, the ride handles about 1,750 guests per hour.
Awards and Reputation
The coaster made an immediate splash, ranking fifth in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards for Best New Ride of 2010, and it has stayed on the wooden-coaster charts ever since — placing 15th among the world’s wooden coasters in the 2024 Golden Tickets and 18th in 2025. Family-friendly stats (a 110 cm height requirement, no inversions) plus genuine airtime and the head-to-head racing gimmick make it a rare coaster that works for nearly everyone in the park.
FAQ
What does “Joris en de Draak” mean?
It’s Dutch for “George and the Dragon,” after the legend of Saint George. The two racing sides are named Water and Vuur (Fire), and a 12-metre fire-breathing animatronic dragon looms between the tracks.
How fast and tall is Joris en de Draak?
Each track is 25 m (82 ft) tall with a 24 m (79 ft) drop and a top speed of 75 km/h (47 mph) over 810 m (2,657 ft) of wooden track.
Which side is better, Water or Fire?
The two tracks are mirrored with identical stats, so neither is objectively faster — the race outcome varies run to run. Ride both and pick your own champion.
Photo: Christophe95 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)