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<\/p>\nIn June\u00a02018, I had the privilege of visiting The Hague in the Netherlands as part of AfriForum\u2019s international awareness-raising campaign on expropriation without compensation. The hotel where I stayed is located near Lange Voorhout, a tree-lined avenue in the city. According to the information board, there are 314 lime trees, 11 Dutch elm trees and 7 horse chestnut trees. Trees have been planted there for more than 800 years and the oldest ones date from about 1745.<\/p>\n
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Autumn<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Regardless of the season, it is always delightful to walk along there on the way to an appointment or the station. This time it was even more so, as a group of nine international sand sculptors took part in the triennial Sand Sculpting World Championship from 4 to 12\u00a0June\u00a02018 there. It was the first time the championship took place in the Netherlands. Participants came from, amongst others, Japan, Singapore, the United States, Mexico and Britain, and were selected by the World Sand Sculpting Academy (WSSA). This unique profession is their full-time job and they are financed through sponsorships, donations and, of course, prize money.<\/p>\n The Dutch seaside resort Scheveningen is 200 years old this year, and the theme of the competition, \u201c200 years of sea, sand and …\u201d linked up with this.<\/p>\n The sculptures that were created are 4 to 5 meters high. Artists could decide for themselves on their interpretation of the theme and set up information boards at their works to explain the symbolism. According to the USA participant with whom I talked, only the finest sand is suitable for this art form \u2013 thus, rather river than sea sand, which is more granular. Each participant used about 40\u00a0000\u00a0kg of sand from the Maas River. Only sand and water are used for the sculpture process. The sand is compressed so that it can survive gale and rain. After a sculpture has been completed, it does not need maintenance. Therefore, it does not have to be sprayed again. It can survive for a long time \u2013 in Japan there is a 30-year-old sculpture.<\/p>\n The sculptures will be available for viewing until 19\u00a0August\u00a02018, after which it will be demolished and the sand will be reused for construction projects in the city.<\/p>\n Every day, one could see the artists’ progress. JOOheng Tan from Singapore called his creation \u201cDimensions of Beauty\u201d. He admires the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh and calls himself the 21st century Vincent Sand Gogh!<\/p>\n 6 June 2018<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Benjamin Probanza of Mexico focused his \u201cLove forever\u201d on the stormy relationship of Frida Kahlo with Diego Rivera.<\/p>\n 7 June 2018<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n My favourite was the woman created by Thomas Koet, the American contestant. He won the third prize.<\/p>\n 6 June 2018<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/20180606_123943-scaled.jpg\")
Summer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1732-e1531374552767-150x150.jpg\")
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\nWinter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/20180606_123353-150x150.jpg\")
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8 June 2018<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/20180606_123257-scaled.jpg\")
6 June 2018<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1-2-150x150.png\")
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