Telefoon van de Wind Hoftuin

Telefoon van de Wind Hoftuin is a public installation in Amsterdam’s Hoftuin, beside places dedicated to remembrance. A classic red British telephone booth gives you a quiet place to remember someone who has died. Inside, you can speak aloud, write in a guestbook, or sit silently with your thoughts.

The idea began in Japan with Itaru Sasaki, who placed an unconnected telephone booth in his garden while grieving. He found that speaking through it helped him organise his thoughts and express feelings. Mireille van Gils brought the Amsterdam installation to the Hoftuin through Humanitas Amsterdam and Diemen. Unheard words remain private, while saying them aloud offers a way to process grief.

The setting lies near the National Holocaust Names Monument and Nieuwe Keizersgracht, also called Schaduwkade. Memorial plaques for former Jewish residents line the Schaduwkade, deepening the garden’s atmosphere of reflection. A mosaic floor inside the booth connects the installation with a wider project supported by Humanitas and Monuta. The Dutch network also includes wind phones in Roelofarendsveen, Haaksbergen, Gouda, Nieuw Vennep, Lelystad, Kraggenburg, and Markelo.