Klenkes, Architectural structure in city center, Aachen, Germany.

Klenkes is a monument by Aachen sculptor Hubert Löneke, installed at Holzgraben in 1970. It depicts a right hand with the little finger raised, the gesture Aacheners use to recognise one another away from home.

The Klenkes gesture comes from Aachen's needle industry, where workers, mostly children, used the side of their outstretched right little finger to separate faulty needles from good ones, a task called "ausklenken". The repeated strain deformed the finger, so Aacheners could recognise each other by it far from home. The textile and needle industry later declined, but the gesture remained. Sculptor Hubert Löneke's monument at Holzgraben has commemorated it since 1970.

The extended little finger is a traditional greeting that has become part of Aachen's local identity. You can still see residents using this gesture, which makes the monument a living symbol of community connection.

The monument sits at Holzgraben street 11 in the center and is free to visit throughout the year. The Elisenbrunnen transit stop nearby makes it easy to reach by public transport.

Few visitors realize that this little finger gesture is still actively used by Aachen residents as a real greeting today, not just a historical memory. This makes the monument more than just a sculpture – it is a sign of a living local tradition.