Amsterdam residents add history to street names
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Paul Fennis and Shirley Brandeis, two Amsterdam residents, began a project in 2013 to display portraits and biographies of the people for whom the city’s streets are named.
Fennis initially installed a panel on a square honoring J.J. Cremer, a writer who fought against child labor, after noticing local children playing there without knowing his story. This led to requests from other streets and the expansion of the initiative, now known as “Geef straten een gezicht” (“Give streets a face”).
Today, the pair have placed nearly 600 panels throughout Amsterdam, but they first seek approval from local residents or associations before installing them. Residents and municipal funding cover the cost of materials. Brandeis writes the short biographies, around 130 words each, carefully considering how figures from the past are viewed today, even when addressing difficult aspects of their lives.
The project has fostered a sense of community, with neighborhoods celebrating the unveiling of new portraits and some residents highlighting the panels in property listings. Brandeis believes the initiative's true benefit is offering accessible history in public spaces, as illustrated by the Fré Cohenbrug, a bridge named for a Jewish graphic designer whose story was initially confused with those of famous footballers.
While they have no plans to expand beyond Amsterdam, Fennis and Brandeis are willing to share their knowledge with others interested in similar projects.
