World’s first sandcastle hotels open in Netherlands

Maureen O'Hare
By Maureen O'Hare, CNN
2 minute read
Published 10:56 PM EDT, Sun September 13, 2015
The world's first ever hotels constructed from sand have opened in the Dutch towns of Oss and Sneek, to coincide with the Friesland and Brabant sand sculpture festivals.
World's first sand hotels —
The world's first ever hotels constructed from sand have opened in the Dutch towns of Oss and Sneek, to coincide with the Friesland and Brabant sand sculpture festivals.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
The one-room hotels are located inside eight-meter-high sand sculptures. They're fully furnished and have windows, Wi-Fi, electricity and running water.
Private sandcastle —
The one-room hotels are located inside eight-meter-high sand sculptures. They're fully furnished and have windows, Wi-Fi, electricity and running water.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
The exterior of the Oss Hotel is inspired by China and features sculptures of dragons and the Terracotta Army.
The sand hotel at Oss —
The exterior of the Oss Hotel is inspired by China and features sculptures of dragons and the Terracotta Army.
Lucas Bruggeman CAM/Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
The festivals run until September 28 in Sneek, Friesland, and October 4 in Oss, Brabant. They attract some of the world's leading artists and there are 30 large sculptures at each site.
Brabant sand sculpture festival —
The festivals run until September 28 in Sneek, Friesland, and October 4 in Oss, Brabant. They attract some of the world's leading artists and there are 30 large sculptures at each site.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
Some 800,000 kilograms of sand were used at the Friesland festival alone. The hotels took four weeks to complete.
800,000 kilograms of sand —
Some 800,000 kilograms of sand were used at the Friesland festival alone. The hotels took four weeks to complete.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
Rushing water puts a swift end to most sandcastles, but at the Zand Hotel there's a shower, toilet, sink and toiletries.
Sandy en-suite —
Rushing water puts a swift end to most sandcastles, but at the Zand Hotel there's a shower, toilet, sink and toiletries.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
The hotel costs $168 based on two people and a one-night stay. That includes a personal tour of the nearby festival, a full breakfast, an in-room bottle of Prosecco and other treats.
In-room sculptures —
The hotel costs $168 based on two people and a one-night stay. That includes a personal tour of the nearby festival, a full breakfast, an in-room bottle of Prosecco and other treats.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
These pop-up palaces are only temporary. They'll close when the festivals end in late September to early October and are already sold out for 2015.
Pop-up palace —
These pop-up palaces are only temporary. They'll close when the festivals end in late September to early October and are already sold out for 2015.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow
Zand Hotel plans to reopen both hotels in time for next year's festival -- and it also hopes to create similar hotels in Germany and the UK.
Get set for 2016 —
Zand Hotel plans to reopen both hotels in time for next year's festival -- and it also hopes to create similar hotels in Germany and the UK.
Zand Hotel/Global PowWow