From Ocean Waste to Jewelry Display

Bracelets made from washed-up fishing ropes

The Harlingen beach is full of unique stories. Stories of vacationers and water sports enthusiasts, but also of beachcombers and art. While one person sees waste, another sees the beginning of something beautiful.

The beautiful views, the wind in your hair, or the refreshing scent of the salty sea air. There are countless reasons to take a relaxing walk along the Harlingen beach. However, anyone who has ever walked along the Harlingen beach has seen with their own eyes that not only shells wash ashore. Waste, often unintentionally ending up in the sea, also washes up on the beach. This waste is not only bad for nature but also an eyesore for almost everyone who visits the beach. Fortunately, there are people who turn this problem around and find value in what washes ashore.

Hidden Gems in Ocean Waste

Daily, people can be found in Harlingen scouring the beach for waste. These so-called beachcombers do this to keep nature clean or to search for hidden gems in the ocean waste. Marieke Meijs, an artist by profession, is one such benefactor. In that sense, she is a modern Harlingen sea hero. Several times a week, she can be found on the Harlingen beach, looking for something most people do not see the value in: remnants of washed-up fishing ropes.

Making Ocean Pollution Discussable

From the nets that wash ashore on the Harlingen beach, Marieke Meijs makes bracelets, which she sells under the brand name Ocean Thrash. With this, she aims not only to make the issue of ocean pollution discussable among a broader audience but also uses part of the proceeds to support charities dedicated to preserving marine life. “Making these bracelets is my way of giving something back to the sea,” says Meijs.

When she is not making jewelry, the artist is busy with other projects in her studio. She creates paintings that focus on nature, the ocean, and her love for surfing.

‘Making these bracelets is my way of giving something back to the sea’ – Marieke Meijs

Available in Harlingen

The jewelry, made from waste washed ashore in Harlingen, is sold in several places in the Netherlands, with two points of sale in Harlingen itself. Those who make a conscious choice and want to connect their wrist to the sea and the Harlingen beach can visit Yogastudio Hoog en Droog or Yogastudio ZenWay.