Under Six Meters of Sand
Documentary about the destructive expansion of Europoort.
2021
Made possible by: M.I.A.R.D.
With special thanks to: Ed Buijsman and Gerard Ouweneel, Johan van der Vis, Leo Boer, Studio Ossidiana, Daphne Heemskerk.
Team: Philippe van Schil, Olivier Otten.
The documentary premiered at RTV Rijnmond, was exhibited at TENT Rotterdam (solo) and Radius CCA.
The port of Rotterdam, where the BP refinery and the ore and coal storage are now located, once was the site of a large nature reserve. The construction of the Nieuwe Waterweg shipping route in the 1860s produced a sand bank which grew into a 1300 hectare jagged dune area. Known as De Beer, the area was a 1300-hectare avian paradise.
Anke Bangma, artistic director of TENT, Rotterdam.
The nature reserve ended with the development of The Europort in the late 1950s and early 1960s. During the 1964 breeding season, the site was scorched away with car tyres and burning oil. The villages of Blankenburg and Nieuwesluis were also flattened and buried under the sand to make way for industry. There was little resistance at the time, and any critical voices were ignored. The port’s economic growth was the undisputed priority. It was understood that increased prosperity would naturally lead to greater general well-being. Though authorities made a promise to ‘compensate’ for the De Beer’s disappearance, it was never honoured.
In their documentary ‘Under Six Meters of Sand’ artists Nöelle Ingeveldt and Juriaan van Berkel (Studio Berkveldt) investigate the rationale of the Port Authority and the Municipality of Rotterdam and the consequences of De Beer’s destruction.
The consequences of
rapid industrial expansion
“Under Six Meters of Sand” is a compelling documentary that exposes the profound consequences of the rapid industrial expansion of the Port of Rotterdam in the aftermath of the Second World War. While focussing on the reconstruction of the country and economic progress, Dutch society witnessed a dramatic transformation of the area.
With the arrival of large oil tankers and ever bigger container ships, navigating towards the port, a westward expansion was initiated by the city council and the port, resulting in the obliteration and burial of two villages, Blankenburg and Nieuwesluis, as well as the destruction of natural reserve De Beer, under six meters of sand.
Perspectives on
environmental and societal impact
This seemingly inconspicuous act of destruction carried far-reaching implications. By researching the audiovisual archives of the municipality, the documentary meticulously unravels the actions taken by the Port of Rotterdam and the City of Rotterdam, showing the consequences of their decisions.
Through insightful interviews with Ed Buijsman, the author of “Een eerste klas landschap,” bird expert, and frequent visitor of the avian paradise, Gerard Ouweneel, and inhabitants of the villages Blankenburg and Nieuwesluis, the film offers a nuanced perspective on the environmental and societal impact.
The documentary was originally broadcasted on RTV Rijnmond and showcased at TENT Rotterdam as a part of Rotterdam Cultural Histories, and at Radius CCA. The work serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between industrial progress and its lasting legacy.
