27 January is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is a common day to clean Stolpersteine and to read the names on them. Anyone may take part, and no permission is needed to clean a stone.
What a Stolperstein is
A Stolperstein is a concrete block of about 10 by 10 by 10 centimetres with a brass plate on top. It lies flush with the pavement. “Stolperstein” is German for “stumbling stone”, and in Dutch people often say “struikelsteen”. You do not trip over the stones in the physical sense. Gunter Demnig, the German artist who had the idea for the project, says that you stumble with your head and your heart, and that to read the name you have to bow.
Why the names are read
Dutch stones usually begin “HIER WOONDE” (here lived), followed by the name, the year of birth and what happened to the person. When a stone is laid, the names are read aloud, and often flowers are laid. Demnig often quotes a saying from the Talmud: a person is only forgotten when his or her name is forgotten.
How to clean a stone
Apply brass or copper polish, such as Brasso, to a soft cloth, not directly to the stone. Rub the stone and let it dry for about a minute. Then polish it with a clean cloth. An old toothbrush helps with the letters. Rinse or wipe away any residue with water. For heavy dirt, use an all-purpose cleaner and a scouring sponge first. Vinegar helps against limescale. A kneeling pad makes the work easier.
Do not use steel wool, wire brushes or harsh acids. They scratch the brass. Brass tarnishes outdoors: it turns brown and then dark. Stones should be cleaned at least once a year, and more often if possible. Besides 27 January, 4 May and 9 November are also common days for cleaning.
How many stones are there?
There are more than 100,000 Stolpersteine. They lie in about 30 European countries. In the Netherlands and Belgium together there are more than 15,600, according to figures from Stichting 18 September. The first Stolpersteine in the Netherlands were laid in Borne in 2007.
To find stones near you, search the map of Stolpersteine.app by name, street or city.
Read on
How do you request or sponsor a Stolperstein for someone?
Stolpersteine are requested and paid for by private people and local groups. Municipal permission is needed. Costs vary by organisation.
Who decides whether a Stolperstein is laid?
Private people and local groups take the initiative. Volunteers look for relatives, and the municipality gives permission because the pavement is public ground.
What happens at a Stolperstein laying? What is the ceremony like?
A Stolperstein is laid in a small ceremony in the pavement, often with relatives, neighbours and schoolchildren. The names are read and flowers are often laid.
