Laboratory experiments carried out by Abad and Garcia (2009) in a high-amplitude Kinoshita meandering channel show bed morphodynamics to comprise steady (local scour and deposition) and unsteady (migrating bedforms) components. The experiments are replicated with a numerical model. The sediment transport formulation was calibrated using the sediment transport rates measured in the experiments. The unsteady bed condition is achieved by using a periodic sediment boundary condition, and the steady bed condition is achieved by using an averaged sediment transport rate. For both cases dune-like bedforms develop, however the periodic boundary condition produces more active dunes. Also, the periodic boundary condition produces zones of higher shear stress, which is similar to results obtained by Abad et al. (2013). © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group, London.