Walk 10.5 km through Heemskerk past 18 unique art benches — a surprising mix of art in public space, nature, and village atmosphere in the IJmond.
Art that invites you to sit down
Heemskerk has a hidden treasure: 18 unique benches, scattered throughout the entire municipality. Each bench is a work of art in itself — created by artists from the IJmond region, each with its own story and form. The Bench Parade connects all these works with a 10.5-kilometer walking route. You walk through residential neighborhoods, past parks, along the dune edge, and across squares. Along the way, you discover a municipality you might not have known so well: quiet, green, and surprisingly creative.
From neighborhood to neighborhood, bank by bank
The walk starts and ends at football club Odin'59, on the outskirts of Heemskerk. From here, you trek through the municipality and find yourself in very different neighborhoods. You pass quiet residential streets where a striking wooden or stone object catches your eye. A moment later, you find yourself in a green park or along a waterway, discovering the next artwork. The route winds along the edges of the dune area, where you feel the fresh air and hear the rustling of the wind in the trees. Every bench surprises anew: from Gerard van Schie’s Klaagbank — a sturdy piece of stone with an almost philosophical aura — to Sjanneke van Herpen’s playful Highlanders . Each artwork invites you to stop for a moment, look, and sit. And perhaps strike up a conversation with a passerby. The route can easily be split into two shorter sections, allowing you to decide for yourself how far you go.
