Python is a steel looping roller coaster at Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands, built by Dutch manufacturer Vekoma. It opened on April 12, 1981, as the largest steel roller coaster on the European mainland at the time, and its arrival marked a turning point for Efteling as the park expanded beyond its fairy-tale forest roots into a full-scale amusement destination.
Riders climb a chain lift hill to roughly 29 meters before plunging into a layout packed with two vertical loops and a double corkscrew, packing four inversions into a compact, tree-lined footprint. Python proved an immediate hit, reportedly drawing around 400,000 extra visitors to Efteling in its opening year, though the park’s rapid growth also stirred local opposition from environmentalists and neighbors.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Efteling
- Manufacturer: Vekoma
- Opened: April 12, 1981
- Height: About 29 m (95 ft)
- Top speed: About 75 km/h (47 mph)
- Length: About 750 m (2,460 ft)
- Inversions: 4
The Ride Experience
After the lift hill, Python’s train drops roughly 22 meters into a layout that threads two vertical loops back to back, followed by a turnaround into a double corkscrew and a closing helix before the brakes. The ride lasts about two minutes and eight seconds and delivers forces up to around 3.5 G, a strong sensation for a coaster of its vintage and size.
In 2017-2018, Efteling rebuilt most of Python’s track because the original steel had deteriorated with age. The lift hill, first drop, and station were kept, but the rest of the circuit was re-engineered by Belgian firm CSM to smooth out transitions while preserving the same overall layout. The refreshed coaster reopened on March 31, 2018.
History and Legacy
Python’s construction signaled Efteling’s deliberate shift from a quiet fairy-tale forest attraction into a broader amusement park, a strategy that drew both enthusiastic crowds and legal pushback from local residents and environmental groups worried about noise and traffic. Despite court challenges that briefly halted construction, the coaster opened on schedule and became a lasting fixture of the park.
More than four decades later, Python remains one of Efteling’s classic steel coasters, valued by enthusiasts for its old-school Vekoma looping layout and its role in the park’s transformation into one of Europe’s most-visited theme parks.
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Python FAQs
Who manufactured Python at Efteling?
Python was built by Vekoma, the Dutch roller coaster manufacturer, using a double-loop corkscrew layout.
When did Python open?
Python opened on April 12, 1981, and was the largest steel roller coaster in mainland Europe at the time.
How many inversions does Python have?
Python has four inversions: two vertical loops and a double corkscrew.
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Photo: Eliedion / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.