Living sand

Where there is now an immense sand plain of almost 500 hectares, a primeval forest stretched out at the beginning of our era.
In the Middle Ages, this offered the few people who lived in the area sufficient chances of survival. Parts of the forest were burned down to make a field, then it remained fallow and after a while another plot was put into use in this way.
Heather began to grow on the fallow areas on which the sheep grazed. However, due to overgrazing and sodging, the poor sandy soil was exposed, the wind got a grip on it and the sand was given free rein.
Villages like the Efteling disappeared under the thick layer of sand and a village like Loon op Zand had to be moved.

Even today there is an area of several hundred hectares where the sand "lives", which means that under the influence of the wind a new landscape is constantly emerging.
Whereas in earlier times man had to fight against the sand, now efforts are being made to preserve this unique area and protect it from the encroaching vegetation.

Manwan