The book In de duinen , published in 1899 as part of the well-known series of nature books that Heimans and Thijsse created together, is an invitation to enter the dunes with open eyes and a sense of wonder and to discover the richness of nature and landscape there.
Heimans and Thijsse were pioneers in popularizing nature knowledge—they wanted not only to document nature, but to inspire a wide audience to go outdoors, observe, admire, and learn. In "In de duinen" (In the Dunes) , they combine their love of nature with a clear, engaging writing style and their own illustrations—the reader receives not a dry manual, but a lively portrait of dunes, plants, animals, and landscape, as if you were walking across the sand yourself, past beachgrass, dune reeds, and the sea.
The book doesn't offer an encyclopedic list, but rather an atmospheric yet informative description of dune nature: the flora and fauna, the changing seasons, the influence of wind and sea, the silence and the ruggedness simultaneously. It thus invites attention, observation, and respect for the natural environment—an early expression of what would later be called nature conservation and nature education.
At the same time , "In de duinen" is culturally and historically valuable: it's part of a series in which Heimans and Thijsse, with their observations, drawings, and texts, made Dutch nature tangible for city dwellers and nature lovers who may have never visited a dune before. The combination of detailed observation, pedagogical enthusiasm, and literary flair meant that their work set a new standard for nature books—not simply as a scientific reference, but as an invitation to experience, admire, and discover.
This edition is a first printing and is in exceptionally good condition. The cover is completely intact, as are all the pages.
