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 Zandverhalen Sandsculpture Museum
AO Edited

Zandverhalen Sandsculpture Museum

One of the largest sandsculpture installations in the world, this exhibit boasts a unique combination of sprawling sand scenes, theological musings, and salvaged shipwrecks.

Elburg, Netherlands

Added By
Gabriel Aronson
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  gabrielthefuzz / Atlas Obscura User
  gabrielthefuzz / Atlas Obscura User
  gabrielthefuzz / Atlas Obscura User
  gabrielthefuzz / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Just outside the moat of the fortified town of Elburg lies the mystifying Zandverhalen, which boasts one of the largest sand sculpture exhibits in the world. Housed in a sprawling warehouse, the exhibit features sculptures crafted from over 4,000 cubic meters of sand. These intricate creations depict a range of biblical stories and scenes inspired by world philosophies juxtaposed with the local fishing culture. The scale of the sculptures, their meticulous detail, and their towering heights (some are over eight meters tall) are awe-inspiring.

The museum also incorporates a curious array of other elements: ancient olive trees, salvaged doors, and architectural artifacts from around the world are integrated into the sand scenes. Perhaps most intriguingly, it showcases remnants of local shipwrecks—dredged from the surrounding area during the creation of the Flevopolder (the largest artificial island in the world)—adding a unique historical dimension. You can also spot vestiges of the building’s past as a printing press, with exhibit labels created using letterpress blocks.

At the end of your visit, you can enjoy a coffee in a Bedouin tent or relax inside a giant ceramic pot lined with cushions. This museum embodies a singular, eccentric vision paired with remarkable craftsmanship, making for a truly unique experience.

Related Tags

Museums Sand Sculptures

Community Contributors

Added By

gabrielthefuzz

Published

December 26, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://whichmuseum.com/museum/zandverhalen-elburg-21551
  • https://zandverhalen.nl/
Zandverhalen Sandsculpture Museum
9 J.P. Broekhovenstraat
Elburg, 8081 HB
Netherlands
52.452877, 5.830732
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Schepenzaal

Kampen, Netherlands

miles away

IJsseloog

Dronten, Netherlands

miles away

Aqueduct Veluwemeer

Harderwijk, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Netherlands

Netherlands

Europe

Places 354
Stories 20

Nearby Places

Schepenzaal

Kampen, Netherlands

miles away

IJsseloog

Dronten, Netherlands

miles away

Aqueduct Veluwemeer

Harderwijk, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Netherlands

Netherlands

Europe

Places 354
Stories 20

Related Places

  • A small donation is requested

    Kefalas, Greece

    The House of Stone Creations

    Nestled in the hills of Crete, a local artist has created a wonderland of stone and terracotta sculptures.

  • Ángel Mateos Museum, MÁM

    Salamanca, Spain

    Ángel Mateos Museum

    A Brutalist monument and "sculpture that contains many sculptures."

  • A Phoenician lion head.

    Rome, Italy

    Museo Barracco di Scultura Antica

    An expansive collection donated by an heirless nobleman formed this admission-free civic museum.

  • Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre de La Castellana

    Madrid, Spain

    Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre de La Castellana

    This open-air sculpture museum is located under a bridge in the center of Madrid.

  • Sapphire City and Dance Party

    Somerville, Massachusetts

    Sapphire City House

    A home decorated by its owner with eye-catching and captivating assemblages of found objects

  • An evocation of the schooner Wyoming.

    Bath, Maine

    Wyoming Sculpture

    One of the largest wooden ships ever built is honored by a steel sculpture evoking her once-superlative scale.

  • Cement sculpted Trophy Buck

    Centreville, Nova Scotia

    Charles Macdonald Concrete House

    Everything in this two-story house—down to the mounted deer head on the wall—was carefully crafted from concrete.

  • Durham, North Carolina

    Durham's Hidden Dinosaur

    Don't be surprised if you see a long-necked dinosaur peeking out from among the trees in Northgate Park.

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.