Every year, you can take a nice walk past various sand sculptures in the Kuinder forest. The theme is different every year. For instance, the sand sculptures have previously depicted recognisable scenes from the Second World War (in view of 75 years of liberation) and well-known children's books have also featured. In the 2022-2023 season, it was the turn of ‘80 years dry’ and in 2023-2024 the theme was ‘time’.
Route description
The route starts at Schoterweg near house number 5 in Bant. Parking is available along Schoterweg at the start of the route. This is marked with a sign. Please note that parking is prohibited on one side of the road to keep it clear and safe for passing motorists.
The sand sculpture trail…
Every year, you can take a nice walk past various sand sculptures in the Kuinder forest. The theme is different every year. For instance, the sand sculptures have previously depicted recognisable scenes from the Second World War (in view of 75 years of liberation) and well-known children's books have also featured. In the 2022-2023 season, it was the turn of ‘80 years dry’ and in 2023-2024 the theme was ‘time’.
Route description
The route starts at Schoterweg near house number 5 in Bant. Parking is available along Schoterweg at the start of the route. This is marked with a sign. Please note that parking is prohibited on one side of the road to keep it clear and safe for passing motorists.
The sand sculpture trail is about 2.5 km long and goes along unpaved forest paths, making it difficult for wheelchair users. No gpx file of this route is available, but if you walk the route in the right direction (starting at Manege Noordoostpolder at Schoterweg 5, you can't miss the signs indicating the direction.
Follow the signs indicating ‘sand sculptures’ for the route through the forest. You will come out of the forest a little further than where you parked your car or bike, then walk along the road back to your means of transport.
Dogs are only allowed along on a leash and walkers are asked to look only with their eyes, not their hands. So enjoy the sculptures without touching them, then many more people can enjoy them until mid-May each year. After that, the sand artists get back to work on the sculptures of the new season. That too is nice to see, but they are not at work at set times then, so you can also have the ‘misfortune’ those two weeks to be a forest walk without any sand sculpture input....
How the sculptures can last for a year
The sand for the sculptures was first wetted and pounded well. From this pounded block, the sculptures were carved. Because the sand is well pounded, once the sand dries out, a kind of soft sandstone is created that can withstand weather and wind.
Moreover, when the sculptures are just finished, a thin protective layer of cellulose (white nursery glue dissolved in water) is sprayed over them. This layer dries hard and transparent and protects the details from decay due to weathering.
Season 2024-2025
The theme of season 2024-2025 is ‘125 years of the Forestry Commission’. The images depict protecting, experiencing and utilising, the missions of the Forestry Commission. At each box, short texts explain the intended depiction. The sand sculptures with this theme can be admired until mid-May 2025. What exactly will be on display in the nine cubic crates? Check out the second and third photo below and come discover the rest for yourself!
