In the dunes at 400 meters from the sea, steel industry in the background and a village behind it.
A place which could be left barren, but also a place to do something very special, which corresponds to the uniqueness of the location.
Until recently this was the site of a camping.
Many photographers documented the site with photos of the camping and the looming factories resulting in surrealistic images.: the greatest contrast between tourism and heavy industry.
The village, however, did not like to be depicted thus. Therefore the camping disappeared and became a nature zone.
Eleven sculptors transformed the place into a park to be proud of. Steel sculptures, made of the very thing being produced slightly further away (and in full view), the flowing dunes, the proximity to the sea and village make it a unique place to be.

 

 
The participating sculptors:
Tsjechische Republiek: Ales Vesely
Nederland, Wijk aan Zee: Nico Betjes
Engeland: Robert Erskine
Frankrijk: Jose Rault
Denemarken: Paul Schöbel
Italië: Luciano Dionisi
Duitsland: Karl Heinz Langowski
Griekenland: Apostolas Fanakidis
Hongarije: Colin Forster
Estland: Jaak Soans
Spanje: Antonio Sobrino Sampedro and Mercedes Cano Redondo

 

 

How it came to be

The sculpture of Jaak Soans from Estonia

Wijk aan Zee was Cultural Village of Europe in 1999. Because of this the village invited eleven sculptors from eleven different countries to make sculptures in a building of the Corus Steelfactory using steel donated by the same corporation. The sculptures were to be inspired by the place where sea, dunes, industry and the village meet.
In the search for sculptors the villages and countries participating in the Cultural Village of Europe lent their support. The Hoogovens (now "Corus") steel factory lent a hand in providing materials and tools, and a place to build the sculptures. They were made in a short three-week period, in may and june of 1999. Heavy cranes moved the art to its present location. The 16th of june 1999 a festive opening of the park was topped off with a visit from Queen Beatrix.

 

Sponsors of The Sea of Steel
Gemeente Beverwijk, The Province Noord Holland, Abeko, Boudesteijn Verhuizingen en Transporten, BUKO Transport, Gemeente Beverwijk, Koster metalen, Van Lieshout, Lokhorst bv, Meerestein Kraakbedrijf, Van Seumeren Holland, Schavemaker containers, Koninklijke Hoogovens, Hotel Café Restaurant Sonnevanck, SSH Handep, IJmond Transportgroep en Zwagerman Zwaar Transport.