Aekingerzand (Kale Duinen)

Open sand in a sea of heathland

The Aekingerzand, also known as the Kale Duinen, is one of the largest drifting sand areas in the Netherlands. It lies in the middle of the Drents-Friese Wold, just outside Appelscha, and it feels like a desert that somehow ended up here. White sandy plains, windswept pines, and at the edges a gradual transition to heathland and forest. That contrast is exactly what makes this area so photogenic.

As a landscape photographer, you are looking for lines in the sand. The wind draws ripples and waves across the surface, and that texture works well as a foreground. A low shooting position works nicely, especially combined with an overcast sky or dramatic backlight. A wide angle between 16mm and 24mm gives you space and depth, but a slightly longer focal length around 70mm lets you give more weight to the isolated pines in your frame.

Light and season

Autumn is the best time. The heathland at the edges turns purple and brown, the low sun rakes across the sand and makes every ripple visible. The golden hour in the morning is quieter than in the evening, with fewer visitors around. The sand reflects the warm light beautifully, almost orange at times. In summer it is busier and the sun sits too high to produce the raking light that shows the sand at its best.

In winter, after a night of frost, the area can look completely different. Ice crystals on the sand and a low layer of mist hanging just above the surface. That takes patience and an early start, but the results can be surprising.

Practical

You park at the car park on the Boerestreek in Appelscha, and from there it is a ten to fifteen minute walk into the area. There are several paths, but the drifting sand itself is open to walk on. Bear in mind the wind, as the fine sand gets into everything. A good camera bag with zip closures is worth having. The area is part of Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold and is managed by Staatsbosbeheer. Flying drones here is not simply permitted, so check the rules with Staatsbosbeheer in advance.

Sources and further reading

• Staatsbosbeheer – Drents-Friese Wold
• Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold
• Wikipedia – Aekingerzand