200 SAND-DUNES IN HOLLAND. [Jak. 



produced artificially such a successful utilization of sand-dunes or 

 sand-plains as have been mentioned as seen from the church-tower 

 in Antwerp. 



II. — Sand-Duncs in Holland. 



From what has been accomplished in Belgium, and elsewhere, in 

 reclaiming and cultivating sand- wastes, it is manifest that such 

 lands may be fertilized and utilized, and that even the mobile sand 

 is amenable to man and man's service. With this ascertained, we 

 can afford to pause and take a look at sand and sand-dunes in their 

 natural state. 



In the autumn of 1871, while attending an International Congress 

 of Travellers and Geographers in Antwerp, I had an opportunity of 

 seeing the cultivated sand -plains of Belgium. Before returning 

 home, having gone to the Hague, I availed myself of the oppor- 

 tunity to go down to Scheveningen and see the coast dunes of 

 Holland. An account of a similar trip made by Signor Edmondo 

 de Amicis I find much more graphic than any I could give. And 

 this I shall cite. 



In his volume on Holland he writes : — " Scheveningen is a 

 village two miles' distance from the Hague ; a road as straight as an 

 arrow, flanked on either side by several rows of fine elm trees, 

 which do not allow a ray of sunlight to penetrate, leads up to it. 

 Parallel to the elms runs a double row of houses, bowers, villas 

 with fringed roofs like Chinese arbours, and an inexhaustible variety 

 of whimsical facades bearing the usual inscriptions, alluring the 

 passers-by to rest and pleasure. This road — the favourite resort of 

 the townspeople on Sundays — is on other days almost deserted ; 

 only a Scheveningen woman or two, a few carriages, and the 

 omnibuses that run between the town and the village, are to be 

 met with. One fancies that so fine a road must lead to a royal 

 palace picturesquely situated in a large garden or noble park. The 

 luxuriant vegetation, the silent shady walks, reminded me of tlie 

 grove by the Alhambra iu Granada. I had forgotten all about 

 Scheveningen ; I no longer seemed to be in Holland. When I 

 arrived at the inn, however, a change so sudden took place in the 

 scenery that I stopped short aghast ; the shady walks, the trees, the 

 resemblance to Granada, had all melted away. I was in the midst 

 of the sandy dunes, in the midst of a dreary wilderness ; a salt wind 

 blew upon my face, and a dull, continuous, powerful thud struck 

 upon the ear. Climbing upon a hillock close by, I found myself 

 in the presence of the North Sea. One whose experience of the 

 sea has been limited to the Mediterranean, may well be excused for 

 feeling a novel and powerful emotion at sight of this sea and coast. 



