Domino Day
Encyclopedia
Domino Day was a world record attempt for the highest number of toppling domino stones, organized from 1998-2009 by Endemol
Netherlands. Together with Weijers Domino Productions of Robin Paul Weijers
, also known as Mr. Domino, parties teamed up to set a new world record. The production was mainly organized at the WTC-Expo in Leeuwarden, Netherlands
.
* Not an official Domino Day.
) until it becomes light enough to tip over, hitting the next Slow Stone to start its powder draining. The process takes approximately one minute per Slow Stone. The Slow Stones are used as an opportunity to cut to advertising, show highlights from earlier in the show, do interviews, etc. The builders of the last Builders Challenge are also selected during the Slow Stones, and the challenge itself starts after the last Slow Stone has fallen.
. Public prosecutors in The Hague opened an investigation and eventually issued a €200 fine to the exterminator.
The design of the course took about a year and a team of 90 builders took around two months to build it.
Note: The theme: Music in Motion represents 9 different kinds of music: Rock n' Roll, Classical Music, Pop Star, Schlager, Roaring 20's, Flower Power, World Music, Hip Hop, and Disco Fever.
Another Note: The Builder's Challenges represent the history of the music players, which are: Record Player, Tape Player, CD Player, and MP3 player.
A 3rd Note: Each Builder's Challenge has a field with a number of dominoes with the number 4 At the beginning. The record player challenge field contains 400 dominoes, the tape player challenge has a field of 4,000 dominoes, the CD player challenge contains 40,000 dominoes, and the MP3 player challenge contains 400,000 dominoes.
Domino Day 2007 was held on 16 November and appeared to fail mostly because of the unsuccessful final challenge to create a bridge of dominoes on a revolving hammer/clock structure to link up with over 400,000 stones. However, it was later revealed that even if this area had fallen, the 2006 record would not have been broken. It was the first time that Domino Day failed to set a new record.
'Celebrating 10 years of Domino Day - Breaking more World Records than ever' is the central theme of Domino Day 2008. Domino Day celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Although one Builder Challenge failed, the record was broken with 4,345,027 dominoes toppled. Also, 9 additional world records were attempted and successfully broken. These additional world records were:
Note: The flows for 2009 are: The American Dream, Latin Extravaganza, The African Life, Colors of Europe, Balancing Yin and Yang, Rough Ice, and Sun, Sand, and Sealife.
Another Note: The Builder's Challenges represent Earth's Elements: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.
A 3rd Note: The 1st, and 2nd Builder's Challenges contain 25,000 dominoes representing earth, and air, the 3rd Builder's Challenge Contain 50,000 dominoes representing water, and the 4th Builder's Challenge has 500,000 dominoes representing all of Earth's continents.
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
Netherlands. Together with Weijers Domino Productions of Robin Paul Weijers
Robin Paul Weijers
Robin Paul Weijers , also known as "Mr. Domino" or Herr der Steine, is a Dutch person who is the organiser of the television program Domino Day and founder of the Weijers Domino Productions company established in Woerden in 1989, a business-to-business communication and production company...
, also known as Mr. Domino, parties teamed up to set a new world record. The production was mainly organized at the WTC-Expo in Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
The Subsequent Record Attempts
| Date | Year | Theme | Location | Result | Fallen | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 December | 1986 | KLM Domino World Record * | Lisse Lisse Lisse is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of 16.11 km² of which 0.41 km² is water. Its population is 21864... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 755,836 | 1,250,000 | 60.5 |
| 2 January | 1988 | Europe in Domino * | Rosmalen Rosmalen Rosmalen is a city in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands. It is located near 's-Hertogenbosch and has belonged to its municipality since 1996. In 2005 the city began construction of a new neighbourhood, De Groote Wielen... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 1,328,101 | 1,500,000 | 88.5 |
| 28 August | 1998 | Domino D-Day: Visionland | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 1,605,757 | 2,300,000 | 69.8 |
| 5 November | 1999 | Domino Day: Europa Zonder Grenzen (Europe Without Borders) | Zuidlaren Zuidlaren Zuidlaren is a village in the province of Drenthe in the Northern Netherlands. Zuidlaren has just over 10,000 inhabitants and is situated on natural heightened land which is called the Hondsrug.... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 2,472,480 | 2,500,000 | 98.9 |
| 31 December | 1999 | Team from China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... & Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... * |
Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... |
Success | 2,751,518 | 3,000,000 | 91.8 |
| 3 November | 2000 | Domino Day: Action - Reaction | Zuidlaren Zuidlaren Zuidlaren is a village in the province of Drenthe in the Northern Netherlands. Zuidlaren has just over 10,000 inhabitants and is situated on natural heightened land which is called the Hondsrug.... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 2,977,678 | 3,112,000 | 95.7 |
| 31 December | 2000 | Team from China & Japan & South Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... * |
Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... |
Success | 3,407,535 | 3,500,000 | 97.4 |
| 16 November | 2001 | Domino Day: Bridging the World | Maastricht Maastricht Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 3,540,562 | 3,750,000 | 94.4 |
| 15 November | 2002 | Domino Day: Expressions for Millions | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 3,847,295 | 4,000,000 | 96.2 |
| 12 November | 2004 | Domino Day: The Challenge | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 3,992,397 | 4,250,000 | 93.9 |
| 18 November | 2005 | Domino Day: Domino Theatre of Eternal Stories | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 4,002,136 | 4,321,000 | 92.6 |
| 17 November | 2006 | Domino Day: Music in Motion | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 4,079,381 | 4,400,000 | 92.7 |
| 16 November | 2007 | Domino Day: Falling into Life | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Failure | 3,671,465 | 4,500,000 | 81.6 |
| 14 November | 2008 | Domino Day: Celebrating 10 years of Domino Day | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 4,345,027 | 4,500,000 | 96.6 |
| 13 November | 2009 | Domino Day: The World in Domino - The Show with the Flow | Leeuwarden, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Success | 4,491,863 | 4,800,000 | 93.6 |
Builders' Challenge
Starting in 2004, each Domino Day has featured Builders' Challenges, with three challenges in 2004 and 2005, and four challenges starting in 2006. Builders are usually chosen in pairs for each Builder's Challenge. The chosen builders then have to complete vital parts of the setup while the dominoes are already toppling else, in order to allow another field of dominoes to topple. This usually takes the form of trying to bridge the gap(s) in an unfinished setup before the toppling dominoes reach it.| Builders Challenge results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 2004 | Success | Failure | Failure | n/a |
| 2005 | Success | Failure | Success | n/a |
| 2006 | Failure | Failure | Failure | Success |
| 2007 | Failure | Success | Success | Failure |
| 2008 | Success | Failure | Success | Success |
| 2009 | Failure | Failure | Failure | Success |
Slow Stones
Starting in 2006, a series of "Slow Stones" are placed just before the final Builders Challenge. Slow Stones are relatively large, transparent domino stones filled with colored powder, with each Slow Stone containing a different-colored powder. Upon reaching the first Slow Stone, its powder begins to drain (similar to an hourglassHourglass
An hourglass measures the passage of a few minutes or an hour of time. It has two connected vertical glass bulbs allowing a regulated trickle of material from the top to the bottom. Once the top bulb is empty, it can be inverted to begin timing again. The name hourglass comes from historically...
) until it becomes light enough to tip over, hitting the next Slow Stone to start its powder draining. The process takes approximately one minute per Slow Stone. The Slow Stones are used as an opportunity to cut to advertising, show highlights from earlier in the show, do interviews, etc. The builders of the last Builders Challenge are also selected during the Slow Stones, and the challenge itself starts after the last Slow Stone has fallen.
Domino Day 2005
During the preparations of Domino Day 2005 on 14 November, with only four days to go until event, a sparrow flew into the building and landed on several domino bricks, eventually causing 23,000 of them (out of 4 million) to fall. The sparrow was eventually shot, by hired exterminator. Outraged by shooting, animal rights group took court actions against the exterminator and the Domino day production company EndemolEndemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
. Public prosecutors in The Hague opened an investigation and eventually issued a €200 fine to the exterminator.
Domino Day 2006
A new world record was set on 17 November on Domino Day. 4,079,381 stones were toppled out of the 4,400,000 that were set up. The first three builders' challenges failed so the success of the last challenge was crucial to setting the world record.The design of the course took about a year and a team of 90 builders took around two months to build it.
Note: The theme: Music in Motion represents 9 different kinds of music: Rock n' Roll, Classical Music, Pop Star, Schlager, Roaring 20's, Flower Power, World Music, Hip Hop, and Disco Fever.
Another Note: The Builder's Challenges represent the history of the music players, which are: Record Player, Tape Player, CD Player, and MP3 player.
A 3rd Note: Each Builder's Challenge has a field with a number of dominoes with the number 4 At the beginning. The record player challenge field contains 400 dominoes, the tape player challenge has a field of 4,000 dominoes, the CD player challenge contains 40,000 dominoes, and the MP3 player challenge contains 400,000 dominoes.
Domino Day 2007
The theme of this year was 'Falling into Life'. A total of 4,500,000 stones were placed by 85 builders from 12 countries. Only 81.6% of the dominoes fell, resulting in a final count of 3,671,465.Domino Day 2007 was held on 16 November and appeared to fail mostly because of the unsuccessful final challenge to create a bridge of dominoes on a revolving hammer/clock structure to link up with over 400,000 stones. However, it was later revealed that even if this area had fallen, the 2006 record would not have been broken. It was the first time that Domino Day failed to set a new record.
Domino Day 2008
On 14 November 2008 the team of Weijers Domino Productions tried to break the world record domino toppling. They did set up 4.5 million dominoes in the WTC Expo Center in Leeuwarden to try topping the previous record of 2 years ago, which was at 4,079,381 dominoes toppled.'Celebrating 10 years of Domino Day - Breaking more World Records than ever' is the central theme of Domino Day 2008. Domino Day celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Although one Builder Challenge failed, the record was broken with 4,345,027 dominoes toppled. Also, 9 additional world records were attempted and successfully broken. These additional world records were:
- Longest domino spiral (200 m)
- Highest domino climb (12 m)
- Smallest domino stone (7 mm)
- Largest domino stone (4.8 m)
- Longest domino wall (16 m)
- Largest domino structure (25,000 stones)
- Fastest topple of 30 metres of domino stones (4.21 sec) (the sprinter Churandy MartinaChurandy MartinaChurandy Martina is a sprinter from Curaçao, currently representing the Netherlands. His personal best time over 100 metres is 9.93 seconds, a national record, achieved in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games final...
ran with the dominoes and achieved the time of 3.81 sec for the same distance) - Largest number of domino stones resting on a single domino (727 stones)
- Largest rectangular level domino field (1 million stones)
- Most fallen dominoes (4,345,027 stones)
Domino Day 2009
The 2009 event is entitled 'The World in Domino - The Show with the Flow'. It was the 11th edition of the show; it showed different aspects of the world with the display moving from continent to continent. The design uses 4.8 million dominoes. 4,345,028 dominoes were needed to be toppled in order to break the standing world record. Even though part of the final section of the piece did not fall, and three builder's challenges failed, the number of dominoes toppled was 4,491,863 and the record was broken.Note: The flows for 2009 are: The American Dream, Latin Extravaganza, The African Life, Colors of Europe, Balancing Yin and Yang, Rough Ice, and Sun, Sand, and Sealife.
Another Note: The Builder's Challenges represent Earth's Elements: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.
A 3rd Note: The 1st, and 2nd Builder's Challenges contain 25,000 dominoes representing earth, and air, the 3rd Builder's Challenge Contain 50,000 dominoes representing water, and the 4th Builder's Challenge has 500,000 dominoes representing all of Earth's continents.
1998
- Netherlands (SBS6): 3,800,000
- Germany (RTL Germany): 9,500,000
- Sweden (KSF7 Sweden): 9,350,000
2001
- Germany (RTL Germany): 11,960,000
- France (TF1): 8,616,000
- Netherlands (SBS6): 3,407,500
- Hungary (RTL KLUB): 2,472,970
- Austria (ORF): 1,238,000
- United States (ABC): 9,400,000
- Spain (Antena3): 1,826,000
2002
- Germany: 12,680,000
- France: 7,600,000
- Netherlands: 3,369,602
- Hungary: 1,367,320
- Austria: 926,000
- Belgium: (Kanaal2 & 2BE): 836,400
- Spain: 1,299,000
- Sweden: 3,465,000
- Iraq: 11,655,000
2006
- Germany: 6,960,000
- Netherlands: 2,068,000
- Belgium: 342,000
- Hungary: 2,997,817
- Sweden: 7,576,000
- United Kingdom: 7,550,000
- United States: 6,467,000
2007
- Netherlands: 2,658,000
- Belgium: 477,240
- Germany: 6,000,000
- Poland (TVN): 3,000,000
- Hungary: 6,454,010
2008
- Netherlands: 2,742,000
- Germany: 7,570,000
- Belgium: 850,000
- Sweden: 3,456,000
- Norway: 500,000
External links
- Endemol
- Weijers Domino Productions
- Domino Toppling World Records
- Reuters article plus two minute video of Domino Day 2006 (URL last accessed 30 December 2006)
- Domino Day 2006 at Google VideoGoogle VideoGoogle Videos is a video search engine, and formerly a free video sharing website, from Google Inc. Before removing user-uploaded content, the service allowed selected videos to be remotely embedded on other websites and provided the necessary HTML code alongside the media, similar to YouTube...
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