In the Leeuwarden Visitor Center (in Obe, Oldehoofsterkerkhof) and at as many locations of Sprekende Stenen as possible you can pick up a folder with a map. You can also read the text here. For the Dutch and Frisian version, change the language selection of the site. Would you like to respond or have you taken a nice photo, please tag @sprekendestenenlwd on Instagram or leave us a message.
Sprekende stenen: Speaking Stones
Sometimes, you see someone that would really like to join in but doesn’t know how. Maybe you know that feeling yourself. So what do you do? For this literary project, writers talked to people who, for various reasons, had experienced some form of loneliness. The result is a collection of engaging stories and poems. And you can find them in Leeuwarden’s city centre.
Eight attractively designed stone faces are mounted on the façades of various buildings. On the sides of the faces, are QR codes. Scan the code and the faces will speak. Check out the map to find out where the stones are and create your own route from stone to stone. Or go to the literary bench you might just meet someone there with a story.
What is loneliness?
Everyone feels it at some point; a sense of wanting, A situation in which you can no longer share your story with others or feel a connection. Loneliness is part of life but it’s also only natural that everyone actually wants to matter.
There are different forms of loneliness with social loneliness being the most well-known. It’s when there is a lack of meaningful contact with others. Emotional loneliness is another form and is when you miss a close connection with someone. And there’s existential loneliness where you feel there’s a lack of meaning in your life.
The power of literature
Literature has a power that includes being able to, just for a while, be in another life, with all its thoughts, expectations, mistakes, emotions and dilemmas. Stories and poems confront us with our very existence. What’s it like to be a stranger, or someone who has felt loss, or someone who cannot be themselves because of their sexual orientation? How do you deal with it? Through stories and poems, Speaking Stones aims to make loneliness tangible and understandable. Go out and explore literature that will broaden your perspectives and, hopefully, make the world a little nicer.
Multilingualism
Multilingualism is a daily reality in Leeuwarden and Fryslân, which is why the stories and poems can be heard in different languages: Frisian, Dutch and English.
The background
The “Sprekende stenen” (Speaking Stones) project was launched in 2022 as part of the “Over de Drempel” (Over the threshold) programme. This programme aims to deal with loneliness in the municipality of Leeuwarden and is, in turn, part of a national initiative ‘One against Loneliness’ led by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Leeuwarden has been a UNESCO City of Literature since 2019 and therefore part of a global network of cities of literature. Through the title, Leeuwarden and Fryslân aim to invest in a professional literary climate, an international network and make literature as accessible as possible.
Art in public spaces
In addition to stories and poems, you can also enjoy beautiful sculptures. The project won the LC Public Award at the presentation of the Vredeman de Vries Prize for Design 2024. There was also an honourable mention for the project by the jury.
Jury Vredeman de Vries Prize: This is a project that enriches public spaces in a subtle but well-thought-out way. Right from the start, the project has clearly been firmly established in its environment. Although the design and impact on the surroundings appear modest, there is something about the simplicity that moves. The unpretentiousness of the project creates deep connections, both with the environment and with the people who experience the stones.
Ineke van der Blom (design) and Sytse Jansma (concept/curator) developed this project for Leeuwarden UNESCO City of Literature.
Legend map
- Jimmy’s Youth Work | Jimmy’s Leeuwarden is a place run by youth, for youth, through welfare organisation Amaryllis. Young people can take their questions and ideas there either in person or online. They can meet each other, work together and get encouraged to discover and develop their talents.
- Tryater theatre company | Tryater is the multilingual theatre company in Fryslân and is part of the Basic National Cultural Infrastructure. It performs on current issues in schools, in theatres, and most especially at unexpected locations. For young and old, Frisian and non-Frisian. And always close to the heart.
- Smoel Art Atelier | Smoel Art Atelier is a workplace for people with a disability. Beautiful art work is made there in all kinds of ways. They also regularly organise creative activities and take part in expositions and art walks. Their work can be rented or bought.
- dbieb | The old prison building is now home to a modern library. The most public place in a city or village, the library is open to all. A place where you can be inspired, read, discover, learn or meet people.
- Campus Fryslân | This beautiful building houses a unique faculty of the University of Groningen. Here, international students, PhD students and world-class researchers approach scientific issues in the fields of economics and society from a multidisciplinary perspective. As a university, they are committed to finding local solutions to real global challenges.
- De Haniahof | The Haniahof is a cultural common place for various artists, Graphic Atelier Friesland and, since 2018,art space H47. It’s a place where artists, whether local, national or international, can come together, inspire each other and hold exhibitions.
- Van der Velde bookshop | In this bookshop you can explore a wide assortment of new and second-hand books to your heart’s content and attend the frequent signing sessions and performances. The bookshop is part of an independent chain of well-stocked bookshops in Northern Netherlands.
- Podium Explore | In this gorgeous building (previously the Wester Church), artists put a smile on your face with the happiest of poetry parties. It’s a café, an atelier and the epicentrum of the festival and production house Explore the North with its regular Friday programmes.
- Literary bench | This first literary bench in Leeuwarden was made by Ineke van der Blom and engraved with the poem ‘eenzamens’ by Sytse Jansma. As part of this literary walk, the bench also acts as a meeting place.
Interested in doing another literary walk? The Poetry Walk takes you through the city centre past beautiful flagstones engraved with poems written by well-known local and national poets and writers.
