Jewish monuments in Edam ‘taped’ because of large groups of peeping tourists

“They tap the windows with the umbrellas and look inside to see if people still live there,” says the resident of the building where the stones are located. “If that was once a day, it’s not so bad, but it goes on all day.” They experience the most inconvenience, especially in the summer months. “We didn’t think the corona time was that bad in that regard.”

Four years ago, seven stumbling stones were placed in front of their house, but residents now experience a lot of nuisance from this. The stones have been placed in the street to indicate where in Edam Jewish people lived and were deported during the Second World War. Now, during guided tours in the medieval town, large groups of tourists often stop at the seven monuments.

Temporary measure

With planters on the sidewalk, the residents hoped to keep the day-trippers at a distance, but that didn’t help. The residents also approached guides to ask if they would like to explain the stones further on, but that did not help either.

At their wits’ end, the residents have now screwed a plate over the stumbling stones. “It is a temporary measure in the hope that the message will now get through,” they say. There has been a strong reaction to the action on social media.

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Privacy compromised

Mick Nolte, chairman of the Jewish Past Edam Foundation, was present when the stones were placed. He understands the harmless action and hopes that guides will point out to people not to look through the windows anymore. “It has nothing to do with anti-Semitism.” 23 stones have been placed in Edam.

Hans Roos van stumblestones.nl has already laid thousands of stones in the Netherlands, especially in the Gooi and Vecht region. It is the first time that he has heard that residents experience such nuisance. “In Amsterdam, where there are many stones, you also see groups of people. And that is exactly the intention,” he says. “But if that takes on such a form that people feel invaded in their privacy, that is not the intention.”

He doesn’t know what to do about it then. But it won’t stop him from continuing to place more memorial stones.

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There are many more stumbling stones in Edam, but in the Grote Kerkstraat most of them are close to a house. Four years ago, the residents were told that the stones would be placed. “We also have nothing against the stones or people taking a picture of them, but it’s really about the large groups.” The picture seems to work, because today the tourists just walk by. This week the residents are taking it away again.