Anyone may clean a Stolperstein, and no permission is needed. Stones should be cleaned at least once a year, and more often if possible. A Stolperstein is a concrete block of about 10 by 10 by 10 centimetres with a brass plate on top. The brass tarnishes outdoors: it turns brown and then dark. In busy streets, shoes polish the stones. Elsewhere, they need cleaning.
Three dates come up often as days for cleaning the stones.
Common days for cleaning
- 27 January: International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
- 4 May: Remembrance of the Dead in the Netherlands.
- 9 November: the anniversary of the November pogroms of 1938, a date widely used in Germany.
You can also clean a stone on any other day. Cleaning is not tied to a particular date.
Who cares for the stones
Stones are requested and paid for by private people and local groups, such as relatives, residents, schools and history societies. Local volunteers research the life of the person and ask the municipality for permission. Anyone may clean a stone, whatever their connection to it. People who research a person can start with archives such as Joods Monument or Oorlogsgravenstichting.
How often, and what to watch for
Clean each stone at least once a year. The brass turns brown and then dark. When the text becomes hard to read, the stone is due for cleaning. Once cleaned, the brass will tarnish again outdoors, so a yearly clean is a minimum. If a stone is damaged, stolen or removed during roadworks, tell the local Stolpersteine group or the municipality, so it can be put back or replaced. The steps are on our cleaning page.
On the map you can see who is commemorated at an address, and sometimes a photo of that person. Stichting 18 September in Eindhoven has kept a database since 2019 of Stolpersteine in the Netherlands and Belgium, together with local organisations, and now also of stones in other countries. There is also a free app for iPhone and Android.
Search by name, street or city on the map of Stolpersteine.app to find stones near you.
Read on
Why are Stolpersteine made of brass, and why do they turn dark?
A Stolperstein is a concrete block with a brass plate on top. Outdoors the brass turns brown and then dark. Here is how to clean a stone.
A Stolperstein is damaged, stolen or gone: what to do
If a Stolperstein is damaged, stolen or removed, tell the local Stolpersteine group or the municipality. Here is how to clean a dirty stone.
What happens to a Stolperstein during roadworks?
A Stolperstein can be taken out during roadworks and must be put back afterwards. If a stone is missing, tell the local group or the municipality.
