In a rare and unexpected incident, a metro train in Spijkenisse, Netherlands, crashed on November 2, 2020 . The train failed to stop at the end of the track and went past the buffer, coming dangerously close to falling into a canal below .
What happened next was unbelievable. At the end of the track stood a large whale tail sculpture called “Walvisstaarten,” designed by architect Maarten Struijs in 2002 . Made from reinforced polyester, it was created purely as an art installation—not as a safety barrier.
Yet, in this moment, the sculpture became one. The train landed on the whale tail structure, which held its weight and prevented it from plunging down. What could have been a major disaster was suddenly avoided by a piece of art .
At the time of the incident, only the train driver was onboard. Thankfully, the driver was unharmed and safely exited the train .
The story quickly went viral across the world, with many calling it “Saved by the Whale’s Tail.” It became a powerful example of how something never meant for protection ended up saving a life.
Today, this incident is remembered as a shocking near-miss—where art unexpectedly turned into a lifesaver.
What happened next was unbelievable. At the end of the track stood a large whale tail sculpture called “Walvisstaarten,” designed by architect Maarten Struijs in 2002 . Made from reinforced polyester, it was created purely as an art installation—not as a safety barrier.
Yet, in this moment, the sculpture became one. The train landed on the whale tail structure, which held its weight and prevented it from plunging down. What could have been a major disaster was suddenly avoided by a piece of art .
At the time of the incident, only the train driver was onboard. Thankfully, the driver was unharmed and safely exited the train .
The story quickly went viral across the world, with many calling it “Saved by the Whale’s Tail.” It became a powerful example of how something never meant for protection ended up saving a life.
Today, this incident is remembered as a shocking near-miss—where art unexpectedly turned into a lifesaver.
In a rare and unexpected incident, a metro train in Spijkenisse, Netherlands, crashed on November 2, 2020 . The train failed to stop at the end of the track and went past the buffer, coming dangerously close to falling into a canal below .
What happened next was unbelievable. At the end of the track stood a large whale tail sculpture called “Walvisstaarten,” designed by architect Maarten Struijs in 2002 . Made from reinforced polyester, it was created purely as an art installation—not as a safety barrier.
Yet, in this moment, the sculpture became one. The train landed on the whale tail structure, which held its weight and prevented it from plunging down. What could have been a major disaster was suddenly avoided by a piece of art .
At the time of the incident, only the train driver was onboard. Thankfully, the driver was unharmed and safely exited the train .
The story quickly went viral across the world, with many calling it “Saved by the Whale’s Tail.” It became a powerful example of how something never meant for protection ended up saving a life.
Today, this incident is remembered as a shocking near-miss—where art unexpectedly turned into a lifesaver.