Vliegend Hert Sculpture

Gazing up at the Vliegend Hert Sculpture, have you ever wondered about the stories it could tell? This remarkable artwork, created by Theo Schepens, landed on this roundabout in 2002. It’s more than just a striking figure of a stag with a human-like crystal figure perched atop. The Vliegend Hert, meaning “Flying Stag”, holds a deeper connection to Amsterdam’s past. Its location, at the intersection of Volendammerweg and Ijdoornlaan, marks the border between two neighborhoods, Werengouw and Markengouw. These areas emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s as part of post-war social housing projects. The Vliegend Hert stands in stark contrast to the practical, unadorned architecture surrounding it. The stag itself, with its gleaming stainless steel skin, symbolizes the area’s history, harking back to the days of Schellingwoude and the flying swan from the Waterland coat of arms. Schepens, the sculptor, crafted the Vliegend Hert with a unique approach. He focused solely on shapes and forms that held intrinsic meaning. He preferred working with bronze, aluminum, or steel and kept his sculptures intentionally smaller than life-sized. He believed this gave the artwork more “breathing room,” allowing it to interact with the space around it. The five-and-a-half-meter mast elevates the Vliegend Hert, making it a prominent landmark and a symbol of the area’s rich heritage. It’s a beacon of art in a landscape of practicality, reminding us that even in times of rebuilding, there’s always room for beauty and imagination. The Vliegend Hert Sculpture encourages us to reflect on the past as we navigate the present, offering a touch of magic in the everyday commute.