In this study the results from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of dune sands from the southeast coast of India are presented. The samples were taken from a dune belt running parallel to the coast of Tamil Nadu between the cities of Cuddalore and Porto Novo. Based on previous studies of sea level changes a Holocene age of the sand mobilization was expected. Our results show a very young age of dune formation. The investigated dunes are not older than 200 years. Periods of increased sand movement are recorded in the dunes. These periods correlate with reduced rainfall during the NE-monsoon in Tamil Nadu. A soil-like horizon and an event layer with dewatering structures provide evidence for environmental changes within the last 200 years. This work demonstrates the application of OSL dating on recent sediments and the potential of the dunes in the study area for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.