Whatsit Wednesday - Kinderkoppen

Perhaps it sounds a bit funny, or maybe even gruesome. In Belgium and parts of The Netherlands we walk and drive over “children’s heads”. That is the literal translation of “kinderkoppen”. So instead of kindergarten (children’s garden), it’s all about their heads. English speakers talk simply of cobble stones. 

They are found in many yards as a beautiful way to lay a path through the garden. In the front of the house they might be the basis of the driveway and the walk to the front door. The name comes from the size of the stone. Each stone is more or less square and the size of a child’s head. 

Amazingly, streets are still laid - on purpose - with these stones. They can be laid in artistic forms, are easy to replace if a section of road is damaged, and last a good while. They do not freeze and break open in the winter. 

Laying such a street, however is quite labor intensive. I remember when the city of Maastricht renovated the shopping streets, they had to have special laborers brought in from Portugal. These streets are section of downtown where cars are not allowed to drive. They are full of walking tourists and shoppers. 

Kinderkopjes may be beautiful and make nice streets and paths, but not everyone is happy about them. Bicycle races are well-known for their grueling sections of cobbled roads. Paris-Roubaix is a good example of this. The aforementioned shopping streets in Maastricht are a torment for ladies in high heels. So much so that the city made sure to also have a section of walking street with smooth stones - polished children’s heads.