This afternoon in Den Helder, Netherlands, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix officially opened the residential Duinpark (Dune Park).

According to the site, Kuiper.nl, the purpose of the Duinpark is a place were neighbors could meet, have fun, and do neighborly stuff together.  Here is some more information about the park:

The design and layout of Duinpark (DunePark) is that of a public, undulating, dune landscape with residential and recreational space. The terrain has been given remarkable differences in height and therefore diverse perspectives and views. To maintain this quality, the choice was made for an open, built-up structure spreading the residences out over the dune landscape. The use of roofs covered in vegetation extends the dune landscape even further over the homes themselves.

The private and the collective domain have grown as one unit. To realise this unity, private spaces and transitional elements, like garden walls and entrances, and colour choices for the façades, fully reflect the surrounding, dune landscape. Gabions form a natural transition from private terraces and anchor the residences in the sand of the dunes.

Existing trees have been preserved as far as possible and fitted into the new dune landscape. Based on the used soil types and varying micro-climatological characteristics of the undulating landscape, Duinpark is subdivided into five, different, landscape-based atmospheres reflecting the inland-dune landscape around Den Helder: the dune creek, dune shore, dunes, dune valley and the dune courtyard. (Kuiper.nl)

To view photos of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix at the opening of the Duinpark please click the link here.  

Source: Kuiper.nl and PPE  Photo courtesy of: Koninklijkhuis.nl