Kate Bush: De Efteling Special

Overview

On 12 May 1978, Kate made her debut on Dutch television in a program that has gotten to be known as “De Efteling Special”. The amusement park De Efteling served as a backdrop for six songs of The Kick Inside: Moving, Wuthering Heights, Them Heavy People, Strange Phenomena, The Man With The Child In His Eyes, and The Kick Inside. On 10 May 1978, the Efteling was ready to open the Haunted Castle, the most expensive attraction it had ever constructed (designed by Ton van der Ven), and they wanted to promote it. In April a documentary featuring the Haunted Castle was made by filmmaker Rien van Wijk, who was eager to shoot in the latest attraction before it officially opened. Kate, who just had a big hit with Wuthering Heights, was approached for a television special that would promote both Efteling and her songs. This is the original broadcast of May 12, 1978. The original 16mm film is lost; this is a copy of the uMatic version that is the only version left.

Rien van Wijk