It’s almost sunset and the tide is coming in at the seaside by Lisette Rijkers

The sea, the beach, the dunes and the coast – all of these together make for a place where many people love to be. Some people love busy beaches on a hot summer’s day.
Others prefer beaches where there is little activity. At times like that, you can really unwind by the sea. Listening to the surf, the sounds of the seagulls, feeling the wind on your face and the smell of the sea air – all this allows you to relax completely.
The beauty of the coast is that it always offers a different view. The weather is different, the sea looks different, and you hear or see different things. That makes it a special place just to be.
This photo takes you to an enchanted moment by the North Sea. After a cloudy day, the sun made a brief appearance just before sunset. On the horizon, the clouds are clearing and a magical streak of warm sunlight appears.
At that moment, it was also almost high tide. The seawater was creeping ever closer towards the dunes. There was just one obstacle left to overcome: a mound of sand on the beach.
And as the sun emerged, the edge of this mound of sand was beautifully illuminated. This seems to cut the photo in half, making it look as though two photos have been placed one on top of the other.
A wondrous and magical natural phenomenon, beautifully rendered in calm, natural tones that invite you to dream away.