Ketelbinkie

On the Schiedamse Vest in Rotterdam, artist Pepijn van den Nieuwendijk – also known as Cirque de Pepin – created a ceramic sculpture titled Ketelbinkie en het Paard van Troje.
The work is a playful yet symbolic fusion of cultures and myths. The initiative came from two restaurants – a Turkish grand café and a Greek eatery – who sought to express their shared history and surroundings through this artwork.

At the center stands the familiar wooden Horse of Troy, an ancient tale of strategy and conflict, upon which Ketelbinkie – the iconic Rotterdam street boy – takes his seat. The sculpture references Rotterdam’s history as a port city and its multicultural fabric, where Greeks, Turks, and Rotterdammers live side by side. It serves as a powerful statement of unity and solidarity.

The ceramic sculpture stands 2.5 meters tall and was realized with support from Wijkcentrum Cool. Mothership acted as curator and was responsible for the coordination and execution. The work was produced in collaboration with, among others, Ed de Meijer, Project ‘Groene Duimen’, the Centrumraad Rotterdam, and Stadswonen.