Every year, you can take a nice walk past various sand sculptures in Schoterveld nature & recreation area. The theme is different every year.
Season 2026–2027
The theme for the 2025–2026 season is ‘Lords of Kuinre’. This theme was not chosen by chance, as Staatsbosbeheer is currently creating a visualisation of Kuinre Castle, further on in the Kuinderbos. Each chest features a story about the rugged lives of the Lords of Kuinre and their criminal activities. Furthermore, a replica of Hendric de Crane’s nobleman’s cog floats on the lake; it was with this vessel that he boarded the Hanseatic fleet on the former Zuiderzee, stealing large quantities of goods and kidnapping noblemen for ransom. He also minted his own coins and levied taxes for personal gain.
There are ten in total…
Every year, you can take a nice walk past various sand sculptures in Schoterveld nature & recreation area. The theme is different every year.
Season 2026–2027
The theme for the 2025–2026 season is ‘Lords of Kuinre’. This theme was not chosen by chance, as Staatsbosbeheer is currently creating a visualisation of Kuinre Castle, further on in the Kuinderbos. Each chest features a story about the rugged lives of the Lords of Kuinre and their criminal activities. Furthermore, a replica of Hendric de Crane’s nobleman’s cog floats on the lake; it was with this vessel that he boarded the Hanseatic fleet on the former Zuiderzee, stealing large quantities of goods and kidnapping noblemen for ransom. He also minted his own coins and levied taxes for personal gain.
In total, there are ten sand sculptures, each displayed in its own cubic crate along the route. You can see a selection of the sand sculptures on display in the attached photos. But in real life and in 3D, they are even more beautiful and impressive. Incidentally, each box features short texts explaining the sand sculpture in question, so you know exactly what you’re looking at. At the final box, there’s an opportunity to leave a small donation to help maintain the sculptures this year, ensuring they can be admired for a whole year.
Directions
The route starts at Schoterweg 1 in Bant, near the Welllerzandweg. You can park your car or bicycle in the car park at Camperplaats De Stronk at Schoterweg 3. From junction 16 of the A6, you’ll see a signpost on the verge with the words ‘zandsculpturenroute’ in red letters to guide you to the car park.
The sand sculpture trail is approximately 3.2 km long. The trail runs through the woods and over the landscape embankment, following an unpaved path with changes in elevation; as a result, the trail is unfortunately not accessible to wheelchair users. If you walk the route in the correct direction (not past FENN’s restaurant first, but round the Schoterplas first), you cannot miss the signs indicating the direction. Follow the signs marked with ‘sand sculptures’ arrows.
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 for the 2026–2027 season were created by Anique Kuizenga, Jeroen Advocaat and Sikke-Bart Frieling, three ‘sand carvers’ from the northern Netherlands. The sand used to create the sculptures is the same as that from the previous season, so it is reused sand.
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.
