Nexø Sandskulpturpark

Sand stories on Bornholm’s working harbor

Nexø Sandskulpturpark sits between former grain silos on the town’s east harbor, where the smell of the sea mingles with the dry, earthy scent of compacted sand. Stepping through the entrance, you move from a functional port environment into a curated world of temporary art, where each sculpture rises several meters high against a backdrop of concrete towers and sky. The juxtaposition of industrial harbor and delicate carving is part of the park’s character, underscoring how fleeting the works are in a place built for permanence. Laid out as a compact park, the sculptures are arranged so you can wander at your own pace, circling each piece to catch different details. Informative signs explain titles, themes and artists, often in multiple languages, helping you understand the stories hidden in folds of robes, faces, animals and imagined scenes. The crunch of gravel underfoot and the occasional call of seabirds are constant reminders that this is both an art space and a living harbor.

From raw sand to finely carved figures

The artworks begin as huge blocks of sand, heavily compacted in wooden forms before the sculptors ever start to carve. Once the forms are removed, artists use shovels, saws and fine tools to reveal compositions that can include lifelike portraits, mythological creatures, or entire narrative scenes in relief. You can often trace tool marks in cloaks, hair and scales, seeing how the surface has been patiently shaped from top to bottom. Bornholm’s weather is a key player in the process. The sand is mixed to hold together through months of wind, rain and sun, with the most fragile sections subtly reinforced. Some sculptures are partially sheltered under canopies, while others stand exposed, softening around the sharpest edges as the season advances. Returning during the season can mean seeing the same piece with slightly different contours, a reminder that even the most solid figures are slowly returning to formless sand.

Changing themes and imaginative worlds

Each year the sandpark is built around a new overarching theme, which might draw on fairy tales, cinema, global legends or scenes from everyday life. Within that shared framework, artists are free to interpret the subject in their own style, so one stretch of the park might feel playful and humorous while another is more dramatic or symbolic. Moving from one sculpture to the next is like flipping through chapters of a very tactile storybook. Because the sculptures share a common material and scale, your eye quickly adjusts to reading the surface: the way light slides across a face, the deep shadows under overhangs, or the lacework of negative space where parts of the block have been cut away entirely. The industrial silos that frame parts of the site add vertical rhythm, echoing the towering works in sand and making the whole area feel like a temporary cultural district within Nexø’s harbor.

Hands-on fun for families and curious visitors

Alongside the main exhibition area, Nexø Sandskulpturpark usually includes a simple but engaging activity zone where children and adults can try their hand at shaping sand. Here the sand is less tightly compacted than in the professional blocks, encouraging play rather than perfection. Buckets, small tools and low walls invite you to experiment, and it is striking how quickly you appreciate the skill required to achieve the crisp lines you have just admired in the main works. Seating areas are scattered through the park, allowing you to pause, take photos or simply sit and study a favorite figure. Many visitors bring snacks or a drink, making use of shaded spots on warm days. The harbor setting keeps a constant breeze moving through the park, which can be refreshing in summer but calls for a light layer outside the hottest weeks. The compact layout makes it easy for multi-generational groups to move at different speeds while still staying within sight of one another.

Bornholm atmosphere beyond the sand

Although the sandpark is the focus, its location in Nexø adds another layer to the experience. Just beyond the fences you can glimpse fishing boats, warehouses and the calm expanse of the Baltic. The town center lies within walking distance, so a visit here often pairs naturally with a harbor stroll or a café stop in one of Bornholm’s more down-to-earth coastal communities. Depending on the time of day, the light can transform the scene. Midday brings strong contrasts and bright, pale sand, while late afternoon softens the sculptures in a warm glow that highlights contours and carved patterns. On overcast days, the absence of harsh shadows can make fine details easier to read. Because the exhibition is outdoors, the park has a relaxed, holiday feel: you are free to linger over whichever pieces speak to you, returning to them from new angles until their stories in sand feel fully told.