Staring at the sky on a sunny day or maybe at a starry night while lying on the stone bench within James Turrels Hemels Gewelf in The Hague city district Kijkduin is a dizzying experience. For me, it really adds an unusual spice to a common walk through the dunes.

Pit
The Hemels Gewelf (in English: Celestial Vault) is a 30 by 40-meter piece of landscape art that has been created on top of a rumble dune in the Nineties by American artist James Turell. To reach the Hemels Gewelf climb the rumble dune via its sandy paths or its wooden stairs and walk through the concrete passageway into the grassy artificial crater. Then admire the skyscape from within and enjoy a great view on the surroundings while walking the earth walls that enclose the Hemels Gewelf. Most likely you will then discover the other stone bench in the distance on a nearby, even higher rumble dune.

James Turells Hemels Gewelf is only 950 meters away from Kijkduin beach, a lively part of the coastline with modern shops and beach pavilions. In recent years the buildings along this part of the coast have been completely renovated.  So nowadays I really enjoy combining a walk through the dunes with exploring only just opened venues at Kijkduin beach.