The “Symposium Naamgeving Openbare Ruimte”, held in Enschede, the Netherlands, explored how street names are powerful symbols of public memory, culture, and history, highlighting the impact of street names on shaping urban identity, offering a platform for discussing how naming public spaces can reflect a community’s values and historical consciousness. This conversation aligns with the Contested Histories Initiative, which responds to similar issues. The Symposium and the projects aim to address contested legacies and foster a deeper understanding of how history is embedded in our public spaces and educational environments.
On Friday, March 14, the city of Enschede in the Netherlands hosted a unique Symposium that explored the power of street names as more than just identifiers, but as vehicles for storytelling, cultural reflection, and community engagement. The Symposium brought together experts, municipal workers, and residents to discuss how street names can shape urban identity and enrich the public space. This report outlines key highlights, discussions, and insights shared throughout the event.
The Symposium started with an inspiring address by Lonneke Groen (former Amsterdam Street Name Committee member), who emphasised the significance of street names in shaping the narratives of our cities. She reflected on the idea that a street name could be the shortest story in the world, but it has the power to inspire, surprise, and deepen our connection to the places we live. Groen discussed how street names can be a window into history and culture, with neighbourhoods offering a broader collection of stories tied to a central theme. She encouraged municipalities to take the time to select names that reflect both the spirit of a place and its historical significance. Street names should not be chosen carelessly as they have lasting significance; they provide opportunities to connect residents with their local history, culture, and values. Groen shared examples of street names designed to reflect specific communities, such as those inspired by local artists, historical figures, or the natural environment. For instance, she highlighted how Enschede incorporated textile-related names, such as bombazijn (bombasine), honouring its textile history; she also praised the municipality of Kerkrade for naming streets after the coal mining industry, a nod to the area’s past.
The challenges of naming streets were also discussed during the Symposium. One of the main challenges noted was ensuring that street names are not repetitive or overly generic. Participants were urged to avoid opting for names used too often, diminishing their impact and connection to the community. Instead, Groen emphasised the importance of innovative thinking when selecting names, ensuring that each name contributes a unique story to the urban landscape. Municipalities sometimes face pressure to name streets after important figures, such as resistance fighters or actors of historical events.
The Symposium also emphasised the importance of engaging the public in the process of street naming. Municipalities can tap into the creativity and suggestions of residents, as demonstrated by the municipality of Franekeradeel, which sought input from the local population to create new and unique street names. Groen encouraged municipalities to ask residents for their ideas and to think beyond traditional naming conventions. Engaging the community in the naming process allows for greater diversity and inclusivity in the final choices.
Another key takeaway from the Symposium was how street names can reflect societal changes. Names can become outdated or controversial over time, particularly when linked to emblematic figures of colonial expansion, slavery or war, and the conversation shifted to the idea that we must be careful in choosing names that do not inadvertently glorify a past that no longer aligns with modern values. One striking example discussed was how street names that once honoured colonial figures are now being reconsidered. The participants stressed that it is crucial to rethink and recontextualise these names, to ensure they do not perpetuate historical injustices but reflect a more inclusive and respectful future.
The Symposium featured a series of workshop sessions where participants could dive deeper into the topics discussed; these included:
- The Path to Overcoming Plant Blindness – by Marco Roos
Marco Roos, a botanist focused on urban biodiversity, shared his approach to addressing urban landscapes through the lens of the 8 V’s of biodiversity (the 8 Vs look different for all species as each species has its own needs for what it eats, where it feels safe, comes to rest, how it reproduces, to what extent it needs water and how it moves from A to B). The most important V is Vrijheid (Freedom – in the sense of autonomy, self-organisation, and spontaneity). Roos emphasised that we can establish a sustainable urban ecosystem only through the free development of vegetation and soil, and that street naming can reflect this concept. Street names should therefore reflect the natural surroundings and biodiversity, ensuring that public space naming is sensitive to local landscapes, flora, and ideologies. This approach would connect the community with its environment and promote a more profound sense of place.
- Inclusive Naming – by Angélique Duijndam
Angélique Duijndam, chairwoman of KetiKotiZeeland (Zeeland Slavery Monuments Foundation, which organises Zeeland’s Keti Koti festival celebrating the abolition of slavery) and prevention officer at Discriminatie.nl, spoke on the importance of addressing colonial history and how street names can play a significant role in inclusivity and collective history. During the session on Inclusive Naming, it was highlighted that street names carry emotional and historical significance. Naming a street goes beyond choosing a name. It brings up memories, emotions, and controversy. The discussion also emphasised that addressing controversial street names can be challenging but is essential. Acknowledging diverse perspectives helps us understand the various meanings associated with these names. Tools like QR codes linking to the history of street names were suggested to promote transparency and public understanding.
- Women’s Names in Public Spaces – by Onessa Kovak
Onessa Kovak, academic librarian at Atria Institute for Women’s History, presented how street naming committees can develop appropriate proposals for new women’s names in their surroundings. As a historian specialising in gender and feminism, Kovak provided valuable insights into how archives can help guide these efforts and reflect the contributions of women in urban history. This session discussed the underrepresentation of women in street naming, with men typically accounting for 90% of street names in Europe. The group explored the impact of history and the legitimising power that names carry in public spaces. It was emphasised that more research is needed to explore historical figures’ backgrounds and avoid naming controversies. A broader approach was suggested, looking beyond the local environment to include diverse figures, such as those from the sciences and manual labour. The session encouraged a shift from a male-dominated framework in naming practices.
- Citizen Participation in 2025 – by Willemijn Zwart
This session, hosted by Willemijn Zwart from the Enschede Street Naming Committee, invited participants to share their cases, best practices, and challenges in engaging citizens in the naming process. The session explored how municipalities can involve the public in naming public spaces in the 21st century, discussing the four pillars of participation and the difficulties of collecting and processing citizen input. Different approaches were highlighted, such as involving neighbourhood councils and local historical associations to gather suggestions. The need for transparency in handling citizen suggestions was emphasised, along with the potential for a more efficient system, like having a designated elected city council member to process decisions swiftly.
- Regional Language and Naming – by Adrie Hemmink
Adrie Hemmink, the heritage and regional language project leader at Museumfabriek in Enschede, shared her expertise on linguistic diversity, dialects, and heritage. She discussed how regional languages offer exciting opportunities for new street names and how heritage projects can help bring local dialects into the urban landscape. In Friesland, for example, using regional dialects in street names helps strengthen community identity and ties people to their roots. This session underscored the importance of recognising linguistic diversity and incorporating local languages into public space naming to foster inclusivity.
Looking ahead, the Symposium explored how street names will evolve in the coming years. Experts suggested that while historical and cultural references will always be important, there should be space for more playful, creative, and lighthearted themes; street names should reflect what is most valued by the community at present and how they can inspire people to view their surroundings in new and unexpected ways. This Symposium was a means to urge attendees to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary naming conventions, encouraging municipalities to strive for innovation while respecting their local communities’ rich history and values. The ultimate goal is to create street names that serve as a home for beauty and creativity, making the public space more engaging and meaningful.
René Dings delivered a closing presentation discussing the evolving role of street names in shaping public space and community identity. Dings emphasised balancing tradition with innovation, ensuring street names reflect historical significance and contemporary values.
