Het jonge bloeiende Eindhoven

Het jonge bloeiende Eindhoven stands on the Vestdijktunnel in Eindhoven, among sculptures celebrating the city’s industrial development. The figure shows a mother with two children, expressing growth and the future. Polyester, fibreglass and stainless steel give this outdoor replica a durable surface beside the elevated railway. Its position connects railway infrastructure with the movement of people and goods through the city.

Joop Hekman designed the original series between 1950 and 1953 as a gift from Dutch Railways. The sandstone sculptures marked the opening of the elevated line between Eindhoven and Woensel. Acid rain damaged the originals, which moved to the Railway Museum garden in Utrecht in 1991. Toon Grassens created this replica between 1997 and 1998, using a mould made from a restored original. On the tunnel’s south side, traffic stands to the left and trade to the right, placing this mother and her children between a wheel and Mercury’s winged helmet.