The Forgotten Art of Sand Carpeting Lives On in One Dutch Museum

A carpet made entirely of sand, hand-strewed into intricate patterns on a living room floor -- it sounds like a quirky art project, but in the village of Schoonebeek this was once an everyday tradition. Today, the Zandstrooiboerderij (Sand Strewing Farm), also called Zwaantje Hans-Stokman's Hof, is the only place in the Netherlands still keeping the craft alive. Until the early 20th century, proper flooring was unknown in many rural homes. Farmers' wives would spread fine sand over the bare ground to create a clean, decorative surface. "On Saturdays, the woman would strew a carpet of sand so the living space would look neat for Sunday, when people from church might stop by," explains Roelie Seinen, the museum's caretaker. From 1946 onward, Zwaantje Hans created larger, more elaborate sand carpets for tourists so they could clearly see the artistry involved. Everything is done by hand. "It is essentially drawing with sand, then shaping it with your fingers. I learned the patterns from Zwaantje herself," Seinen says. Zwaantje Hans passed away in 1978, and Seinen took over the farm in 1986. Zwaantje never realized her craft was unique -- she thought everyone did this. It was workers from the NAM oil company who told her otherwise. The sand carpet does not immediately catch the eye, so some visitors accidentally walk across it. Seinen laughs: "I stop them when I can, but eventually everything gets restored." To keep the tradition alive, an annual sand-strewing competition is held at local elementary schools. "We are the only ones in the Netherlands who still demonstrate this," Seinen says proudly.