Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Netherlands Soest Lange Duinen

Lange Duinen

This large sand dune in the Netherlands is home to wind-whipped trees with "floating" roots.

Soest, Netherlands

Added By
Sarah Turner
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
A tree with exposed roots.   sarahturnerr / Atlas Obscura User
A tree with exposed roots.   sarahturnerr / Atlas Obscura User
From july until august, most of the edges of the dunes have large fields of heather   Archaos / Atlas Obscura User
  maup / Atlas Obscura User
  maup / Atlas Obscura User
The sand dunes.   sarahturnerr / Atlas Obscura User
The sand dunes.   sarahturnerr / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

There’s a massive sand dune in the Dutch town of Soest. "Lange Duinen" (the Long Dunes) a prime spot for an afternoon stroll, a peaceful place where locals love to stretch their legs and walk their dogs atop the soft, forgiving terrain. It's also a fascinating place to witness the wind’s craftsmanship still at work.

The mass of sand is encircled by woodland, and there are unique trees scattered within the dune as well. Here, you’ll find some trees with “floating” roots. Though it looks like the trees are climbing out from the sand to take their own walk throughout the park, their exposed roots are actually a result of wind erosion.

The Long Dunes, as well as the nearby Short Dunes, are a geological monument of the Netherlands. The stretch of sand offers a rare, important glimpse of the region’s natural environment and the geological processes that shape it. The sands were pushed south during the advance of the last ice age, and they’ve remained here since, though the wind continues to influence the area.

Related Tags

Parks Nature Preserves Dunes Trees Natural Wonders Wind Nature Plants

Know Before You Go

Wear shoes. The beautiful soft, white sand is very inviting. However, it's important to remember it's a public park and so you might step in something sticky or smelly.

Community Contributors

Added By

sarahturnerr

Edited By

maup, Archaos

  • maup
  • Archaos

Published

November 1, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soester_Duinen
  • https://www.route.nl/wandelroute/356197/soest-lange-duinen-blauwe-palen-route
  • http://www.vvv.nl/activiteitenkaart/detail/c7abd2f6-bfcc-436d-9fef-e72781792281
Lange Duinen
22 Sparrenlaan
Soest
Netherlands
52.155274, 5.29936
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Belgian Monument

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (The Tower of Our Lady)

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Wolfsdreuvik

Hilversum, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Netherlands

Netherlands

Europe

Places 348
Stories 20

Nearby Places

Belgian Monument

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (The Tower of Our Lady)

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Wolfsdreuvik

Hilversum, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Netherlands

Netherlands

Europe

Places 348
Stories 20

Related Places

  • Green arch in Fragas do Eume.

    Cabanas, Spain

    Fragas do Eume

    This enchanting natural park is a magical example of a temperate rainforest in Europe.

  • Trollskogen

    Borgholm, Sweden

    Trollskogen (The Troll Forest)

    Crooked windswept pines give this old forest an enchanted and magical look.

  • The Tambopata Research Center

    Tambopata, Peru

    Tambopata Research Center

    One of the most remote lodges in the Amazon offers rare wildlife encounters and undisturbed views of the Peruvian rainforest.

  • Redd, Washington

    Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area

    One of the northernmost occurrences of western juniper can be found in the sand dunes of Washington's Palouse.

  • Cape Flattery

    Neah Bay, Washington

    Cape Flattery

    At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

  • The Enchanted Forest

    Whitethorn, California

    Enchanted Forest

    A grove of "candelabra redwoods" deep in California's Lost Coast.

  • Gryteskogen Troll Trees

    Lund NO, Sweden

    Gryteskogen Troll Trees

    This collection of Dwarf beech trees were once believed to be enchanted trolls in disguise.

  • The Drago Milenario.

    Icod de los Vinos, Spain

    Drago Milenario

    This local emblem is the oldest and largest dragon tree in the Canary Islands.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.