menachem

Iconic Rotterdam poet Jules Deelder died today. A spoken word artist before it became fashionable you could often see him flāner around Nieuwe Binnenweg, where his daughter Ari runs a bar, that he co-owned. His Rotterdam is the raw, working man's city. He performed his poems in a broad, Rotterdam accent, instantly recognizable. He cultivated a Rotterdam loathing for Amsterdam and all things Amsterdam. Every weekend he could be found on the stands of FC Sparta, at "The Castle", Sparta the working man's football club north of the river (opposed to Feyenoord).

His spoken word/jazz performances are legendary and he looked the part, in sharp suits and shoes, pomaded hair and daring sunglasses. He wasn't afraid to do commercial work, but his habitat and focus were Rotterdam.

Lines from his poetry, and even entire poems can be spotted all over Rotterdam and can be seen on tote bags and other merchandize, if you want to take a piece of the essential Rotterdam with you.


the same poem in the Benelux cycle tunnel:


Deelder at 75, shortly before his death