Jules Deelder

For the seventieth birthday of Jules Deelder, photographer and art director Lenny Oosterwijk created a striking tribute: a black metal silhouette of the poet, life-sized and precisely cut from four centimeters of solid steel.
The work is based on a photograph of Deelder, capturing his instantly recognizable posture — the sunglasses, the stance, the attitude.

The sculpture, titled Wat nergens op lijkt is echt, is installed on the Nieuwe Binnenweg, near Café Ari — a spot frequently visited by Deelder himself. The installation serves as a striking reflection of Deelder’s influence on the city and its people: visible, razor-sharp, and full of character.

The project was initiated by Hans Kleinjan, Jack Kerklaan, and Krijn van Laar — close friends of Deelder. Mothership developed the concept, acted as curator, and coordinated the project from conception to completion.
It was made possible with the support of Barzilay Rotterdam B.V. and Rotterdam Steel Works.