Analemmatic dials

Slijk-Ewijk Lido

The extraction of sand for the highways around here left a lake that has been converted into the 'Slijk-Ewijk Lido' recreation area. A large analemmatic dial has been laid out on the sun green, close to the pavilion. The major axis is as much as 12 m (40 ft).

The hour points are marked by boulders, which probably were dug up here. They give the dial some 'sculptural presence'. Whether the public gardens maintenance people value this, I'm not sure...
The dial reads daylight saving time. "We only go for a swim or a sun bath in summer", as the information panel argues. The hour points run from 6 am to 9 pm. As a bonus the time points of first sunrise (5:23) and last sunset (9:51) are added. I never saw that at an analemmatic dial. The times have been engraved in polished areas.

The date line has been cut into a granite slab, in a taught and simple style. Divisions are per calendar month. Fortunately, the budget allowed for a complete date line, so that it is not limited to the summer season.

Location: 51.9° N, 5.8° E
Design: P. de Zwart
Inauguration: March 1993