Endless Connection Fountain, Aarhus
A playful labyrinth of water and light on Aarhus’ harbourfront, where shifting walls of jets invite you to step inside a starry-sky inspired artwork.
Endless Connection is a striking interactive fountain by Danish artist Jeppe Hein on the harbour square at Havnepladsen in central Aarhus. A grid of ground-level jets forms shifting, over two‑metre‑high walls of water, creating temporary rooms you can walk into as the patterns appear and vanish. Inspired by the starry sky over Aarhus, it doubles as a playful urban artwork, a summer splash zone for children, and a contemplative light-and-water sculpture after dark.
A brief summary to Endless Connection
- havnepladsen, Aarhus, Aarhus C, DK
- Visit website
- Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
- Free
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Outdoor
- Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
- Monday 12 am-12 am
- Tuesday 12 am-12 am
- Wednesday 12 am-12 am
- Thursday 12 am-12 am
- Friday 12 am-12 am
- Saturday 12 am-12 am
- Sunday 12 am-12 am
Local tips
- Bring a light towel or spare clothes if you plan to walk through the water walls, especially with children on warm days.
- Visit after sunset in spring or summer to see the fountain’s illuminated patterns and enjoy reflections of the harbour lights.
- If you prefer to stay dry, stand just outside the grid lines; the water rises vertically so edges are safe viewing spots.
- Check local information if visiting in winter, as the fountain is usually inactive in the coldest months.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drink Options
- Drinking Water
- Food Options
- Seating Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Getting There
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Walking from central Aarhus
From the compact city centre around Aarhus Cathedral, reach Havnepladsen on foot in about 5–10 minutes. The route is flat and follows pedestrian-friendly streets that transition naturally towards the harbourfront, making it accessible for wheelchairs and strollers and easy to combine with nearby museums and shops.
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City bus to the harbourfront
Several local buses stop close to the Dokk1 and Navitas area at the harbour, a short walk from the fountain. Typical travel times from residential districts within Aarhus are 10–25 minutes, with frequent daytime services. Standard city bus tickets usually cost around 20–30 DKK depending on zones and ticket type.
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Light rail and short walk
The Aarhus light rail line serves central stops near the harbour, from where you can walk to Havnepladsen in roughly 5–12 minutes. Trains generally run every 10–20 minutes during the day, and a single-ride ticket is commonly in the 20–30 DKK range within the city zones.
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Car or taxi within Aarhus
Reaching the harbour square by car or taxi from most inner-city districts typically takes 5–15 minutes, depending on traffic. Nearby public car parks around the waterfront usually charge hourly rates in the approximate range of 15–30 DKK, and spaces can be busier on sunny weekends and during major events.
Endless Connection location weather suitability
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Clear Skies
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Mild Temperatures
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Hot Weather
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Any Weather
Discover more about Endless Connection
Starry Sky Turned Into Water
Endless Connection is a contemporary fountain and light artwork by Danish artist Jeppe Hein, set on the harbour square between the historic city core and Aarhus’ redeveloped waterfront. At first glance you see a flat paved surface, but hidden beneath are dozens of nozzles that shoot water straight up from the ground. These coordinated jets create walls of water up to around 2.3 metres high, enclosing and revealing spaces in constantly changing patterns. The work is inspired by the starry sky above Aarhus. The jets switch on and off in sequences that echo constellations and shifting night skies, turning an ordinary square into a three‑dimensional drawing made of water and light. Rather than a traditional basin, the fountain is completely flush with the ground, so it feels like the artwork rises directly out of the city’s skin.Playing Inside A Living Labyrinth
One of the defining features of Endless Connection is that you are invited to step right into it. When the walls drop, you can walk into the grid; seconds later the water may rise again around you, turning the fountain into a living labyrinth. You can test your timing, dash across, or simply stand still and feel the enclosure form and dissolve. Children in particular treat the fountain as an urban playground on warm days, weaving through the corridors of water and daring each other not to get soaked. Adults tend to linger at the edges at first, then gradually join in, discovering that the simplest movements become part of the choreography of the piece.Harbourfront Setting Between City And Sea
The fountain sits at Havnepladsen, also known as Herman Sallings Plads, a broad open square close to Aarhus Cathedral and the waterfront cultural hub around Dokk1 and Navitas. The square forms a threshold between the compact medieval streets and the wide harbour views, and the fountain anchors this transition with sound, movement, and reflections. Surrounding buildings and passing ships are mirrored and fragmented in the water walls. On calm days you can watch the harbour framed like a series of shifting picture windows. The location also means you can easily combine a pause at the fountain with nearby museums, cafés, and the promenade along the quay without changing your pace or schedule.Light, Seasons And Subtle Technology
Endless Connection is most active in the milder months, when the water runs daily on a long schedule and the fountain becomes a focal point of the square. After dark, integrated lighting picks out the jets, so each rising wall glows softly against the night, and the star‑sky inspiration becomes especially clear. In cooler or winter periods the installation may be turned off to protect the system, leaving the square as an open paved space. Although the technology behind the fountain is complex, it is intentionally hidden. Control systems manage pressure, timing, and patterns beneath the surface, allowing the visible experience to feel effortless and almost magical. For visitors, the focus stays on the sensation of stepping through curtains of water, hearing the steady roar turn suddenly quiet, and watching geometric forms appear and vanish.An Accessible Artwork For All Ages
Hein’s practice often blurs the line between sculpture, architecture, and social space, and Endless Connection is a clear example. The flat surface around the jets makes the work accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, so everyone can move through or around the installation without barriers. You can choose to stay dry at the edges, sit nearby and listen to the rhythmic splash, or embrace the full experience by walking right into the grid. Because it is free, open‑air, and always present when operating, the fountain slips naturally into daily life in Aarhus. Office workers cut across the square, families pause while exploring the old town and harbourfront, and evening strollers stop to watch the illuminated patterns. The artwork lives up to its name by creating fleeting but memorable connections between people, water, and city.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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Unmissable attractions to see
Herman Sallings Plads
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Aarhus waterfront
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The Occupation Museum
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KØN - Gender Museum Denmark
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Aarhus Cathedral
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Aarhus Theatre
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Art Nouveau splendour, golden auditoriums and four busy stages make Aarhus Theatre the historic heart of live performance in Denmark’s second-largest city.
Latin Quarter
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Bishop's Square
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Store Torv
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Viking Museum
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Latinerkvarteret
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Dokk1
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Essential places to dine
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Madklubben Århus
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Café Hack
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Basso Aarhus
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Casablanca Aarhus
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Den Rustikke
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Restaurant Pinden
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A Hereford Beefstouw - Aarhus
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Bone's Aarhus
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Pihlkjær Restaurant
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Sct. Oluf Restaurant
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OliNico
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Lecoq
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Plant Food
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Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
stoy
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COS
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BESTSELLER Rømerhus
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LAKOR Shop Aarhus
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Plakaten
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Jooma Aarhus
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Utzon
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Essential bars & hidden hideouts
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Ris Ras Filliongongong
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Escobar
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Nightclubs & after hour spots
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For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Fun-filled
- Lively
- Scenic
- Unique
- Casual
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Modern Designs
- Minimalist Designs
For the architecture buff
- Modern
- Art & Design
- Viewpoints
- Landmarks
For the view chaser and sunset hunter
- Iconic Views
- Waterfront
- Sunset Spots
For the social media creator & influencer
- Photo Spots
- Selfie Spots
- Reel-Friendly
- Architectural Shots
- Instagrammable
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Low Impact
- Public-Transport Accessible
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Photowalk
- Adventure Photo Shoot
- Mindfulness
- Cultural Heritage
- Day Trip
- Roadtrip Stop
For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Solo Female Friendly
- LGBT Friendly
