Sand sculpture route Schoterveld

Every year, you can take a nice walk past various sand sculptures in Schoterveld nature & recreation area. The theme is different every year.

Season 2025-2026

The theme of season 2025-2026 is 'fable creatures'. A total of 10 sand sculptures, each in its own cubic crate, are set up along the route. A selection of the sand sculptures to be admired can be seen in the attached photos. But they are even more beautiful and impressive in real life and in 3D. By the way, each box is accompanied by short texts explaining the intended depiction, so that it becomes clear even if you do not recognise the fable creature.

The sand sculpture route ran through the Kuinderbos until mid-August 2025; as of the end of September 2025, the route has been moved to the Schoterveld, a little further away. Here, a completely new walking route was created around the Schoterplas, along which the sand sculptures can be seen since then.

Route description
The route starts at Schoterweg 1 in Bant, near the Welllerzandweg. You can park your car or bike at the car park of Camperplaats De Stronk on Schoterweg 3.

You can choose how long your route along the sand sculptures will be: 3.2 , 4.7 or 5.7 kilometres long. The route goes through the forest and over the landscape wall and thus on an unpaved path with height differences, which unfortunately makes it not passable for wheelchair users.

The attached gpx file of this route is the longest version. If you walk the route in the right direction (not past restaurant FENN's first, but around the Schoterplas first), you can't miss the signs indicating the direction. Follow the signs indicating 'sand sculptures'. The map attached to this route as an image shows at which points you can choose the shortest route, the medium route or the longest route.

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 people can enjoy them for a whole year to come.

Facilities near the route

At the start of the route, at the car park of activity area De Stronk, you can use the toilet. Before you walk back to the car park at the end, you pass restaurant FENN's, where you are welcome for a cup of coffee, a nice lunch or a delicious dinner during opening hours.

The sand artists

The ten sand sculptures of season 2025-2026 were created by Anique Kuizenga, Jeroen Advocaat and Sikke-Bart Frieling, three 'sand carvers' from the northern Netherlands. The cubic crates, in which they are displayed, were made available by cooling company De Groene from Rutten. The sand from which the scultpures are made was extracted on site in the Schoterveld by Firma van de Wiel from Drachten, the sponsor of the sand sculpture route.

How the sculptures can stay for a year

The sand for the sculptures was first well wetted and rammed. From this pounded block, the sculptures were cut out. Because the sand is well compacted, once the sand dries, 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 weather influences.

At the last sand sculpture, there is an opportunity to leave a small donation to maintain the sculptures this year. So in case (children's) hands do cause minor damage to the sand sculptures, this will allow for repair.