Celestial Vault, James Turrell 1996

Very cool place to visit. Best time of day is NOT when the sun is immediately overhead (like we did 😕). Also best if you have the place to yourself (like we did 😄 ).

A unique and interesting art experience. It’s a secret place and if you go when no one else is around (I went in peak Summer & had no interruptions) then it feels like you are the only person in the whole world. Make sure to lie with your head at the bottom and not the middle to get the full experience. The whole area around here is beautiful too and nice to walk around and relax. Enjoy this unusual piece of landscape art!

This Celestial Vault created by James Turrell in 1992. Lying on your back, head far back, the sky above you takes on the shape of a dome resting on the crater rim. Normally you have the idea that the sky hangs flat above you, in reality the sky naturally bends with the curve of the earth. It’s nice place to watch the stars or clouds. The idea to invite Turrell first occurred when Stroom participated in the preparations for the International Conference of Landscape Architecture held in 1992 in The Hague whose theme was the relation between landscape architecture and the visual arts. It’s free and always open for visitors. You can get here by public transport (take bus 24 to the final stop or also tram 1).

A place that is relatively far from the city, therefore expect more wait time for taxi/Uber drivers to come. Not really recommended to come during night time. The space itself looks great, except there are some graffiti at the center, which makes the artwork less spiritual.

“The idea is for visitors to lie on the slabs with their heads towards the lower ends of the slopes which will allow them to see the edge of the crater but mainly the open sky. With the curved edge as a reference point the sky appears to be a curved dome (which it sort of is).”

Defiantly a cool spot to see if you’re close by or going to the beach. Read the plaque at the bottom of the stairs. Sadly the one at the top is vandalized.

This place is awesome but it's critically important that you look closely at the information sign about how to position yourself to get the best experience. In words: Lie on top of the pedestal with feet to center and head towards the earthen wall, tilting your head over the edge of the pedestal and sort of look backwards.

stunning piece of land art by american artist James Turrel, went there for my birthday and it was completely magical