Flying Pins, Public sculpture at Kennedy Avenue, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Flying Pins is a steel sculpture near Eindhoven Central Station that displays ten yellow bowling pins and a massive bowling ball spread across 20 meters in a dynamic composition. The arrangement captures the moment as if the ball has just knocked the pins into the air.
Artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen created this installation in 2000 as part of the Sleutelwerken collection to enliven public spaces. The work emerged during a period when Eindhoven was actively developing its cultural landscape and artistic identity.
The yellow pins recall daffodils that bloom along Kennedy Avenue in spring, connecting the artwork to the local environment. This color choice links the modern sculpture to the seasonal rhythm of the city around it.
The sculpture stands 7.5 meters tall and is visible from Kennedy Avenue, free to view day and night with no admission required. Pedestrians and motorists can easily spot it, and it offers an engaging sight for those passing by the station or the area.
Funding for this permanent work came from an unusual source: local businesses contributed about 1.1 million euros to make it happen. This widespread business support demonstrates how deeply the city was invested in bringing the project to life.
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