Memorial · Amsterdam

Memorial

Photograph at the Memorial Memorial
Photograph: Hay Kranen, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

The Wind Phone memorial in Amsterdam offers a unique way for individuals to connect with those they have lost. This special phone, though not physically connected to a network, provides a poignant space for silent reflection and remembrance. It stands as a symbolic bridge, allowing visitors to articulate unspoken thoughts and feelings to their departed loved ones. This concept, originating from Japan, fosters a meditative experience, giving voice to grief and memory in a personal and meaningful dialogue. The memorial's simple yet profound design encourages a moment of quiet contemplation in the heart of the city.

This memorial, known as the Telefoon van de Wind, or Wind Phone, draws its inspiration from a similar initiative first established in Japan. The original concept emerged as a way to cope with the immense loss and trauma following natural disasters, offering a communal yet deeply personal outlet for grief. By providing a non-functional telephone, these memorials create a dedicated ritual space where individuals can articulate their feelings, memories, and goodbyes as if speaking directly to the departed. This tradition has since spread globally, finding resonance in different cultures as a powerful symbol of enduring connection across loss, becoming a quiet, yet significant, part of contemporary remembrance practices.

The memorial is located in Amsterdam, providing a contemplative space within the city. Visitors can find this unique site for remembrance and reflection. Its design is intended to encourage a personal and respectful interaction. It is situated to allow for quiet moments of thought, and those visiting are encouraged to engage with the memorial in a manner that honours its purpose as a place for personal communication and remembrance. The simplicity of its setting underscores its role as a dedicated space for individual solace.

Memorial in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Geographic data via OpenStreetMap.

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Data sources

Location records are drawn from open, licence-clean datasets, kept here with attribution and gratitude to the people who maintain them.

  • Open Plaques, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). See openplaques.org.
  • Wikidata, available under the CC0 1.0 Universal dedication.
  • © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence.
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. War memorial records are drawn from open community datasets (OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, NHLE) - never from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is excluded.

Editorial descriptions, photography and tribute links are original TributeLegacy work, layered on top of the open data.

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