Nederland - Harderwijk, Beekhuizerzand

Beekhuizerzand: a Dutch mini desert.

It is one of the few remaining drift sand areas in the Netherlands and even Europe. Beekhuizerzand is an area of about 200 hectares. It had to be restored in 2004 from a wooded area to the drift sand in its current shape. Many pines have been cut for this transformation. The top layer of the soil was removed; causing the wind can do its work again.

Drift sand areas are unique natural landscapes in western Europe, most of them can be found in the Netherlands. They have their own flora and fauna. Characteristic plants and animals are the lichens and the sand lizards. The temperatures in a drift sand area can vary considerably. Sometimes it freezes at night, but during the day the temperature can rise to 40 degrees Celsius.