Jan van Haasteren Top 10 Puzzles

I made a list of my Top 10 Jan van Haasteren puzzles myself. Perhaps he has changed over time (I have now – May 2022) not yet made all of Jan van Haasteren's puzzles. My list can be found below, of which I have to report that there is 1 winner and that is: Jan van Haasteren 'De Efteling' (Fairytale Forest). That's my overall winner!

1. Jan van Haasteren 'Best' puzzle

I thought the best puzzle was 'De Efteling' (Fairytale Forest), which also won the Toy of the Year in the 'Puzzles' category. Rightly so! This was released in 2021 and the artist is Robert Derks – not Jan van Haasteren. The number is 20045. This was a collaboration between Jumbo and De Efteling. Why did I like this the most? A few reasons:
– there were a lot of regular recurring elements (often with Rob Derks)
– it contained fun fairy tales and elements that you also see in the Efteling
– it was also a real puzzle, it was not too easy but not too difficult either
In video the Fairytales that you can find in the puzzle:

Read a review? 'The Fairytale Forest (The Efteling)'

2. Jan van Haasteren 'Most boring' puzzle

The most boring puzzle for me was the puzzle 'Happy Birthday Jan – 80 Years' (Number 19029). Sounds a bit irreverent, but this puzzle had virtually no recurring elements. Also, the characters on this puzzle were drawn very large and not much happened on the puzzle. However, he was not easy, that was quite disappointing to me. But: he really wasn't nice! This is probably because the puzzle was released in response to a poster from 1977. While Jan released his first puzzle in 1975, he did not yet have the fixed recurring elements in his puzzles. And the purpose of the drawing was different, it was intended as a poster and not as a drawing for a puzzle. Later, a puzzle of the poster was released.
General review in video:

Read a review? 'Happy Birthday Jan – 80 Years'

3. Jan van Haasteren 'Longest' puzzle

The longest puzzle by Jan van Haasteren is not that difficult, because there is only one that long: and that is the puzzle of 1000 pieces of 3,75 meters. That is this puzzle, which you do not see put together in the image below, but it is possible:

General review in video:

Read a review? 'Jan van Haasteren Longest puzzle in the world'

4. Jan van Haasteren 'Smallest' puzzle

The smallest puzzle is the puzzle 'The Opening' of 15 Pieces, published in 2007 during the Opening of the Jumbo Spellenfabriek.

This very small puzzle was sent to the people who received an invitation to attend the openings of the Nederlandse Spellenfabriek (NSF). This puzzle is not in a box by the way. If you want to read all about this very small puzzle, read 'Anniversary puzzle 'The Opening'. Also this is a very rare puzzle!

5. Jan van Haasteren 'Largest' puzzle: 30.200 pieces

Until May 7, 2023, there was not one greatest Jan van Haasteren puzzle. Until this date it was normal a puzzle of 5000 pieces. However, on May 7, 2023, an Extra large puzzle was released by Jumbo, namely the 'Jan van Haasteren XXXL Puzzle 30200 Pieces '10th anniversary Jan van Haasteren studio'. A few facts about this puzzle:
– weighs 2 kilograms
– has 30.200 pieces
– consists of 10 puzzles that you can put together
– is 6 meters long and 1,80 meters high
– the dimensions of the puzzle box XXXL are 32,5 centimeters x 28,5 centimeters x 85 centimeters.
More info about the largest Jan van Haasteren puzzle.

6. Jan van Haasteren 'Hardest' puzzle

Would you like to vote for the most difficult Jan van Haasteren puzzle yourself? Which can! Go to 'The most difficult Jan van Haasteren puzzle'
Note: I only make JvH puzzles of 1000 pieces, so I think the one below is the most difficult puzzle of 1000 pieces by Jan van Haasteren. In general, the Expert puzzle 'Sharks everywhere' is considered the most difficult (that is a puzzle of 500 pieces). I thought it was the most difficult puzzleThe Middle Ages' (Castle Conflict). Because of all the stones of the castles and all the knights that look very similar, it became a very difficult puzzle. But it was so much fun to make! It's this puzzle:

General review in video:

Read a review? 'Jan van Haasteren Middle Ages'

7. Jan van Haasteren 'Easiest' puzzle

UPDATE – as of December 8, 2024, I am still in doubt whether to replace 'The Soapbox Race' as mentioned below with the puzzle 'Catch that Cat!'. But I think I will nominate 'Catch that Cat!' as the easiest. This puzzle also took me about 4 hours. That is this one:

General review video:

For the puzzle 'Catch That Cat!' I had the easiest puzzle 'The Soapbox Race', it took me no less than 4 hours, while it normally takes me about 8 hours! That was a bit disappointing, because too easy is no fun. And it is still a anniversary puzzle note.

General review in video:

Read a review? 'The Soapbox race'

8. Jan van Haasteren 'Funniest' puzzle

The funniest puzzle I found very difficult to choose from; funny elements are hidden in many puzzles. But I still have very good memories of the 'Tour Texel' puzzle. Every piece of the puzzle seemed to contain something funny. This one has stuck in my memory. That's this puzzle:

And this is my overall review on this puzzle:

Read a review? 'Round Texel'

9. Jan van Haasteren 'Oldest (First)' puzzle

The very first puzzle drawn by Jan van Haasteren was a Popeye puzzle of 16 pieces, drawn in 1975. In 1977 Jan signed a poster for Bokma Citroen Jenever and a puzzle of it was released by Ravensburger in 1985 (billiards), however this puzzle was released in 1993 by Jumbo (also 'billiards') in 3000 pieces. Jan van Haasteren also drew a poster for Hoppe / Bokma in 1977 that was later (only in 2016!) made into a puzzle: Jan van Haasteren 'Happy birthday Jan - 80 years' 1000 pieces. After that, Jan 'officially' started drawing puzzles for Jumbo. For Jumbo, the first puzzle that Jan drew was the puzzle 'Olympics', from 1983.
Read more about 'First puzzle Jan van Haasteren – Popeye Floor puzzle'.
That's this puzzle:

and this is my review:

10. Jan van Haasteren 'Latest (Last)' puzzle

I can't give a picture of the newest or last released puzzle by Jan van Haasteren. Because that changes continuously. With this website I follow all editions of 1000 pieces, and for that you can follow 'Jan van Haasteren New puzzles' – that list is continuously updated.

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