The world record for the largest operational telephone remains with a towering telephone sculpture in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, officially recognised by Guinness World Records. The oversized phone was first exhibited on 16 September 1988 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Dutch insurance company Centraal Beheer — and its impressive size still makes it a standout record-holder today.
Standing an astonishing 2.47 metres (8 ft 1 in) tall and 6.06 metres (19 ft 11 in) long, the giant phone weighs around 3.5 tonnes — heavier than many automobiles. The handset itself stretches 7.14 metres (23 ft 5 in) in length, so large that it must be lifted by crane for someone to make a call.
Located outside Centraal Beheer’s offices in Apeldoorn, the playful record-breaking telephone was built by the company’s own employees as a symbol of connection and communication — encapsulating the idea that sometimes even the simplest act, like picking up the phone, can make a big difference. While records evolve over time, this giant telephone remains one of the most memorable examples of an everyday object blown up to extraordinary scale.
