Dutch Sand Maestro Crafts Stunning UK Beach Portraits with Rake Magic

Gert-Jan Van Der Kooij, a Dutch sand artist, has made a big impression on a British beach during his holiday. At 46 years old and a father of three, Gert-Jan has spent the last eight years perfecting his craft of creating large sand drawings using a rake. When he found out his holiday cottage in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, was close to the coast, he packed all his equipment and took a ferry to England. Once there, he began transforming the sandy beach into a gallery of portraits and designs, drawing the attention of locals and visitors alike. People gathered on the promenade, a high walkway overlooking the beach, to watch him work and admire the art. They clapped and cheered, expressing their appreciation for his unique creations. In the Netherlands, where Gert-Jan lives near a beach, his art is often only visible from above, usually with the help of a drone.

To plan his intricate designs, Gert-Jan uses computer software and wears virtual-reality goggles while drawing, which helps him stick to his plans. He started out making sand art with his hands, but his wife later bought him a rake, making it easier to create larger and more detailed pieces. During his stay in Essex, he created massive 30-meter by 30-meter portraits of well-known UK figures such as Amy Winehouse, Winston Churchill, and David Beckham. He also drew a steam train to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern British railway. One local man asked Gert-Jan to create a portrait of his mother, who had passed away three months earlier, and the artist was happy to honor the request.

Over six days, Gert-Jan's sand art became a spectacle for the community, bringing people together to admire his work. He described his time in Walton-on-the-Naze as the greatest holiday he has ever had and promised to return. Some of his other notable sand artworks include an octopus in front of the Eden Project, a butterfly, and a tribute with concentric circles and patterns dedicated to footballers Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. He also created a heartfelt sand tribute reading 'In Loving Memory of Greg Monks, 1986-2025, Forever in our hearts, Simply the best. ' Gert-Jan's creative efforts have left a lasting mark on the beach and in the hearts of those who witnessed his art.