De Maasvlakte / Slufterstrand

New land at the edge of the Netherlands

The Maasvlakte was built out from the end of the Europoort, reclaimed from the North Sea and still shifting. The Slufterstrand is the beach section on the seaward side, running along the outer edge of the Maasvlakte 2 port expansion. There is no promenade here, no beach bar, no crowds. What you do get: an enormous sky, a rugged beach with groynes, and in the background the silhouettes of cranes and terminals. That combination of nature and industry is what makes this beach genuinely different from every other coastal location in the Netherlands.

What works photographically here

The beach is long and flat, with regularly spaced groynes that divide the water and protect the shoreline. Those groynes are invaluable for a composition built on strong leading lines. At low tide the stones are well exposed and you can get down low for a dramatised perspective towards the sea or towards the harbour. A wide angle or standard zoom up to 35mm works well here, but a longer focal length of 70 to 135mm also lets you compress the port installations nicely against a cloudy sky.

In a storm this beach is at its best. The surf is heavy, the sky dramatic and sand blows across the beach. A long shutter speed, an ND filter, and you have the perfect recipe for water that draws across the stones like mist. Sunset adds a warm glow on top of that, but keep in mind that the sun drops almost directly west over the sea here, which on clear evenings produces beautiful orange and red tones on the wet sand.

Season and crowds

Autumn and winter are the best seasons. The skies are changeable and the chance of stormy conditions is high. In summer the Slufterstrand is popular as a swimming beach, which makes the atmosphere considerably more ordinary. On a weekday in winter you will have the beach to yourself.

Practical

You reach the Maasvlakte via the N15 and follow the signs towards Maasvlakte Strand or Slufterstrand. There is a large car park at the beach entrance. Access is free. Take note of the opening times of the port access road, as the area is partly managed by the Havenbedrijf Rotterdam. Photographing from the beach itself is unrestricted, but if you want to go onto the port grounds you will need permission. For wind strength and tide times, check the current forecast via Buienradar or Rijkswaterstaat.

Sources and further reading

• Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, Maasvlakte 2
• Rijkswaterstaat, waterinfo getijden
• Gemeente Rotterdam, recreatie Maasvlakte
• Wikipedia, Maasvlakte