Twenty years ago Hanneke had her first encounter with sand sculptures when she was doing ticket sales as a summer job for a big sand sculpture park in Brugge. She was studying interior design back then, and immediately fell for the material and atmosphere of the group of sculptors working together on a big pile of sand.
After finishing her studies in 2003, she had an opportunity to sculpt sand on a project in Germany, and took it. After that, she worked many different jobs to improve her skills. A couple of years later she was traveling the world doing what she loved most, making sculptures in sand, snow, ice and foam.
She met a someone who had the same passion and they circled the world together, having so much fun making sculptures and making connections with remarkable people. When they became parents they took their children to projects and continued their dream. While partly living on illustration, she keeps sculpting and is sure that she will never give up because the material is just magical.
Notable events and competitions:
• 3rd place at International Sand Sculpting Festival Revere Beach in 2022
• 2017: Sculptor’s choice in doubles at Parksville, Canada, and 3rd place at Vietnam Women’s competition
• 2015: People’s choice award for solo in Boston and 2nd in doubles at Treasure Island