until 27 September
The Magical Blue Gold

KATWIJK – The extraordinary phenomenon of Sea Sparkle is the focus of a new photo exhibition at the Katwijk Nature Center.
It often occurs on warm summer evenings, but can also be seen in the middle of winter: when the seawater is disturbed, it lights up with a magical blue glow. This is caused by the presence of tiny, single-celled organisms known as heterotrophic dinoflagellates, better known as Sea Sparkle (Noctiluca scintillans).
Katwijk native Corné Ouwehand has been fascinated by this natural wonder along the North Sea coast for years. He often stays up all night to photograph it, capturing the Sea Sparkle in a way that is both atmospheric and artistic. As a self-described “night photographer,” he seeks to show the glowing water in all its mysterious beauty.
Ouwehand has selected 24 of his Sea Sparkle photos for display at De Oude Redschuur, home of the Katwij…
It often occurs on warm summer evenings, but can also be seen in the middle of winter: when the seawater is disturbed, it lights up with a magical blue glow. This is caused by the presence of tiny, single-celled organisms known as heterotrophic dinoflagellates, better known as Sea Sparkle (Noctiluca scintillans).
Katwijk native Corné Ouwehand has been fascinated by this natural wonder along the North Sea coast for years. He often stays up all night to photograph it, capturing the Sea Sparkle in a way that is both atmospheric and artistic. As a self-described “night photographer,” he seeks to show the glowing water in all its mysterious beauty.
Ouwehand has selected 24 of his Sea Sparkle photos for display at De Oude Redschuur, home of the Katwijk Nature Center on the Rijnmond in Katwijk aan Zee. Several video clips of the glowing water phenomenon are also part of the exhibition.
The exhibition, titled “In Search of the Magical Blue Gold,” runs all summer until the end of September, and is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 16:00. Ouwehand himself will regularly be present, and his recently published book on Sea Sparkle is available for purchase at the venue for €15.95. In it, he shares his knowledge: what Sea Sparkle is, where and when to find it, and how best to photograph it.
For more information, visit www.denachtfotograaf.nl. You can also stay informed on Instagram via @zeevonkalert. Additionally, sightings and forecasts of Sea Sparkle can be found at www.zeevonkmelding.nl.
When
- Every friday and saturday until september 27th, 2025 from 12:00 to 16:00