Loonse en Drunense Duinen

Sand as far as you can see

The Loonse en Drunense Duinen is the largest inland sand drift area in Western Europe. That sounds big, and it is. From the Bosweg near Kaatsheuvel, you walk out of the forest within a few minutes and suddenly there is nothing in front of your lens. Just sand, ripples, and a dark tree line on the horizon. They call this the Brabant Sahara, and that is not an exaggeration.

The sand has a warm, almost orange tone when the light is low. That colour works well combined with the cool shadow lines cast by the wind ripples. The earlier you arrive, the sharper those lines are. Wind and visitors gradually erase them as the morning goes on.

When to go

Autumn is the best time. The heather colours along the edges are deep purple and brown, the low sun gives the sand texture, and the chance of mist is greater. A morning with ground mist is something special: the sand rises above the haze and the forest edges become silhouettes. Come early. Really early, before sunrise. Parking along the Bosweg is straightforward, but the area gets busy with walkers and dogs as the day goes on.

Summer is beautiful too, but the light is harder and the shadows flatter. Sunset compensates for that. The open sand has no obstacles, so you can let the sun drop straight to the horizon.

Compositions and focal lengths

A wide-angle lens, think 16 to 24mm, takes in the expanse and the sky. A low camera position emphasises the wind ripples in the foreground. A longer focal length, around 85 or 100mm, lets you isolate the transition between sand and forest, or a single tree half buried in the drifting sand. Those trees are photographic gold.

For macro, the transition zone is interesting. Along the forest edges, mosses, lichens and small heather plants grow on the sand. Early in the morning there are still droplets on them. A 90 or 100mm macro with a low, raking sun gives a lot of texture and depth.

Practical

You can park at the car park on the Bosweg in Kaatsheuvel, or on the Drunen side at the Duinzoom. You do not need a permit to photograph here. It is a national park, so drones are not freely permitted. Check this in advance with the park management. On summer days and fine autumn days, expect a lot of visitors during the afternoon hours.

Sources and further reading

• Nationaal Park Loonse en Drunense Duinen
• Staatsbosbeheer – Loonse en Drunense Duinen
• Wikipedia – Loonse en Drunense Duinen