Record Sand Art: A 20-Meter-High Castle with a Purpose

Standing before the 20-meter giant in Denmark, I felt the same excitement I once had when seeing the world’s tallest sandcastle in photos. This new towering structure, rising 21.16 meters (about 69.4 feet), broke the previous record of 17.66 meters set in Germany in 2019 by Skulptura Projects GmbH. Built with 4,860 tonnes of cohesive sand mixture—about 10 percent clay—and topped with a thin layer of glue, it looks like a real castle built to hold a title forever.

How the Sandcastle Came to Life

The creator, a Dutchman named Wilfred Stijger, worked with 30 sculptors, reminding me of how teamwork fuels powerful art. The castle’s pyramid form gives it power, stability, and room for intricately decorated scenes. I watched some parts being shaped during a chilly, windy autumn, and it amazed me how the team managed the harsh weather typical of winter near the seaside town of Blokhus.

A Symbol of the Times

Stijger included a model of the virus with a crown, representing how the coronavirus pandemic seemed to be ruling our lives. It felt surprisingly cohesive, blending art and reality. I liked how the depictions showed residents staying home, choosing nice places to enjoy but also learning when to stay away, a message many of us still carry.

Blokhus and Its Local Touch

The sandcastle also celebrates local features—I recognized shapes of beach houses, fish, lighthouses, and popular seaside activities like windsurfing, kite-surfing, and kitesurfing. Even the inhabitants of Blokhus said that despite heavy frost in February and March, their seaside town continues to inspire massive creative projects.

Crafting a Record-Breaking Giant

What impressed me most was learning how designers, 12 sculptors, and eight technicians once built another record attempt using 11,000 tonnes of sand and water with no additives. This new one, however, used stronger sand and a circular base with a diameter of 26 meters for better internal support. Working eight hours a day for three and a half weeks, the team proudly had it certified by Guinness World Records.