April 21, 2026, 11:25 am | Read time: 3 minutes
On the Polish Baltic coast, in the small town of Jarosławiec, a large artificial beach section has been created in recent years. Today, many refer to it as the largest of its kind in Europe, and some even call it the “Dubai of Poland.” Similar to the namesake metropolis on the Persian Gulf, an artificially designed coastal area is the focal point here. TRAVELBOOK presents the unusual project and explains how the beach is permanently maintained through ongoing coastal protection measures.
Europe’s Largest Artificial Beach in Jarosławiec
Although now a popular vacation destination, the beach in Jarosławiec was not originally planned explicitly for tourism. The artificially created coastal section emerged as a response to a growing problem: The Baltic Sea had been eroding the cliffs at Jarosławiec for decades. As a result, parts of the shore collapsed, increasingly endangering the infrastructure near the coast.
The Polish Maritime Office in Szczecin describes the standard coastal protection procedures used on its website. Sand is extracted from the seabed and strategically brought to the coast. This method helps slow down erosion.
Tourism Benefits in the Small Village
The Polish Baltic coast is already one of the country’s most important tourism regions. According to the Polish Statistical Office, millions of visitors travel each year to the seaside resorts between Świnoujście and Gdańsk, including many from abroad–especially from Germany. Long overlooked, this trend is now also evident in Jarosławiec.
The coastal protection measures described above have produced an enormous beach section. In the media, such as the “Polen Journal,” there is often talk of an area of around five hectares. The place marketed as the “Polish Dubai” with its wide, bright beach has gained significant recognition over the years.
In addition to the beach, tourist and gastronomic facilities have been created along the cliffs in Jarosławiec in recent years, as well as smaller promenade sections and viewpoints.
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Why the Beach Section “Grows”
The artificial beach itself remains in an ongoing process of maintenance and adaptation. Coastal protection is not a one-time construction project–it requires continuous measures. The reason for this is natural influences: Wind and waves steadily carry away the deposited sand. To preserve the beach and stabilize the coastal sections, new sand is regularly brought to the coast and distributed. As a result, the beach “grows” in a practical sense and appears temporarily wider.
Criticism of the Project
The beach in Jarosławiec can be described as a coastal protection project with a tourist side effect. Initially certainly a sensible endeavor, but similar measures are sometimes criticized–especially by environmental groups, marine ecologists, and coastal protection experts.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) points out that–although widespread–beach replenishments interfere with natural coastal processes. They alter habitats and, given the rising sea levels and stronger storms, can only be effective to a limited extent in the long term. Additionally, such projects are considered permanently labor-intensive, as they must be regularly repeated to maintain their effectiveness.