Eindhoven is the fifth-largest city in the Netherlands but arguably the most notable element of the city is it being the birthplace of Philips, the Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation, which was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. This legacy has shaped the city in numerous ways, some of which can be directly seen in the monuments that define the current cityscape. However, plenty of other landmarks are tied to the history and culture of the region that stretches back for centuries.
A statue of Frederik “Frits” Philips is located in the center of Eindhoven and defines the main Market Place. Created by local artists Kees Verkade and installed in 2007, the piece celebrates “the king of Eindhoven,” which is the reputation Philips developed on account of his role at Philips as well as his efforts to save nearly 400 Jews during the Nazi Occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.
The Little Drummer is a statue that resides next to St. Catharine’s Church, which is the largest in Eindhoven. The sculpture was presented by the St. Catherine Guild to the city in order to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the founding of Eindhoven.
Another member of the Philips family is honored with the statue of Anton Philips, which resides in front of the main railway station in Eindhoven. The piece greets passengers as they arrive and serves as the last significant landmark of the city for those departing. Philips served as CEO of the company from 1922 to 1939, ushering in an era of tremendous growth for the organization and city.
Created by Henck van Dijck in 1995, a small obelisk-like piece called The temptation, the wisdom and the danger resides in the middle of Stratumseind in Eindhoven. Looking like a small obelisk, the steps represent the different phases of life, culminating with the obelisk shape. It is topped by a transparent prism with a built-in light that is connected to street lighting.
These are just a few of the obscure and outstanding monuments located throughout Eindhoven. While the Philips organization has made a major impact on the culture and history of the city, the future of the entire region is set to be influenced by many other people, organizations and developments.
