During the Week Against Loneliness (September 24–30, 2026), Leeuwarden will feature a special literature project: Sprekende Stenen (Speaking Stones). A walking route leads past façade stones and a meeting bench, bringing personal stories about loneliness to life.
Sprekende Stenen is a literature project that has been available to listen to in Leeuwarden since 2022. Periodically, new stories and poems are added, centering on people’s personal experiences. The common thread is loneliness: what does it feel like to be alone, to miss connection, or to feel unseen or unheard?
Four writers engaged in conversations with individuals who have each experienced loneliness in their own way. Their experiences have been transformed into personal and compelling audio fragments.
Those who walk the route will discover eight “speaking stones” in the city center, along with a specially designed meeting bench. By scanning the QR code on a stone, the story becomes audible.
With this project, the creators aim to use literature to raise awareness and foster connection—exactly what the Week Against Loneliness is about. The route invites people to reflect on the meaning of loneliness during a walk, listen to others’ experiences, and perhaps start a conversation themselves.
Want to learn more or walk the route? Visit the Sprekende Stenen website or pick up a folder with a map at Visit Leeuwarden on Oldehoofsterkerkhof.
