Stumbling Stones (literal: stumbling stones) is an international project by German artist Gunter Demnig. The project commemorates the victims of National Socialism throughout Europe with memorials set into the sidewalk. The small, square commemorative stones, measuring 10 by 10 centimeters, are placed in front of the homes of people who were expelled, deported, murdered, or driven to suicide during World War II. The stones are made of concrete with a brass plaque stamped with "hier woont" (here lived), followed by the name, date of birth, date of deportation, and place and date of death of the commemorated person. These Stumbling Stones commemorate, among others, the Jews, Sinti and Roma, political prisoners, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses and people with disabilities who lived in these houses. The artist calls them Stumbling Stones because “you stumble over it with your head and your heart, and you have to bend down to be able to read the text.” Demnig designed the foundation stone in 1993 and placed the first stone – more or less illegally – three years later. Stumbling Stones in Berlin and Cologne. In 2000 it went Stumbling StonesThe project officially launched, and since then, more than 116.000 Stolpersteine have been placed in 31 European countries. The first Stolpersteine were laid in Rotterdam in 2010, and in October 2025, the artist himself placed the thousandth stone at Erasmusstraat 21. The Stolpersteine Foundation states that everyone should Stumbling Stone can apply for anyone who was murdered by the Nazi regime, but also for victims who committed suicide out of fear of the occupiers. Stones are also placed for people who had to go into hiding or otherwise suffered under National Socialism. The placement of the Stumbling Stones in Rotterdam is arranged by Loods 24 Foundation and Jewish Children's Monument, which mediates between the applicant and the artist. An overview of the placed stones can be found on this interactive map and on the memorial card from the Rotterdam City Archives.
