Leuven wants to give grieving residents a 'Comfort Handkerchief': "Gifts for weddings and births, but never for deaths"

Leuven plans to gift a 'Troostzakdoek', a comforting handkerchief designed by artist Rinus Van de Velde, to residents who experience loss. This initiative aims to make mourning more discussable within the community. The handkerchief features embroidered phrases that symbolize the connection between love and grief. It serves as a practical item to encourage conversations and shared memories. The project is part of Leuven's broader effort to address mourning openly, contrasting with traditional practices that treat death as a private matter. The handkerchief will be distributed through yet-to-be-determined channels, and it is part of an upcoming exhibition on textiles and memory.