This year’s Sand Sculpture Festival in Middelkerke, at the Belgian coast, takes place between 28 June and 8 September. In preparation of the event, over 20 international sand artists have spend 10 days putting the display together, transforming 5,000 tonnes of sand into works of art across 5,000 square metres of the Belgian coast.
The 2024 edition invites visitors on a round-the-world trip through sculptures of famous national symbols such as India’s Taj Mahal, Egyptian pharaohs, Japanese temples and African wild animals, as well as emblems from cities including New York, London and Rio de Janeiro.
As in previous editions, the festival is collaborating with Antwerp-based pop-up theatre company, Proefkonijnen, to provide animated theatre performances for young and old. There are also interactive sand sculpting workshop with sand experts opportunities, along with a beach bar serving food and drinks.
The Sand Sculpture festival attracts around 10,000 visitors a year from across the globe and is accessible by tram at the stop De Greefplein, which can be reached from the Knokke, Ostend and De Panne train stations. Visitors attending by car can park in the underground parking in Middelkerke-Centrum.
The festival is accessible everyday from 10am to 6pm. Tickets are available for purchase through the festival website as well as on-site. Each ticket purchased comes with an NMBS booking code to receive 50% off journeys to Ostend and back.