A man dressed head-to-toe in black, sunglasses on even after sunset, speaking poetry like a machine gun. Jules Deelder (1944–2019) was more than a poet – he was Rotterdam’s heartbeat after dark.
The man who turned poetry into performance
Deelder didn’t read poems. He delivered them – fast, fierce, and full of rhythm. Inspired by jazz, his verses danced to the beat of the city. He captured Rotterdam’s grit, humor, and soul in every line. No fluff. No filters. Just raw urban truth.
A poet with a turntable
To him jazz was his second language. Deelder spun records as a DJ, mixing spoken word with sax solos and bebop beats. His shows felt more like underground gigs than literary readings. He once said, “Without jazz, life would be a mistake” – a cheeky remix of Nietzsche’s famous quote.
Rotterdam’s unofficial ambassador
As the self-proclaimed Night Mayor, Deelder defended his city with pride. He loved Rotterdam’s rough edges and wasn’t shy about saying so – especially when comparing it to Amsterdam’s polished facade. His poems, stories, and one-liners made him a local legend.
A legacy that still echoes
Jules Deelder wrote about Rotterdam – and was Rotterdam. His spirit lives on in the city’s jazz clubs, poetry slams, and street murals. He proved that poetry can be loud, stylish, and unapologetically cool.
Jules Deelder quote
‘In Rotterdam verdienen ze het, in Den Haag verdelen ze het en in Amsterdam smijten ze het over de balk.’
‘In Rotterdam they earn it, in The Hague they distribute it and in Amsterdam they throw it down the drain.’
