Fifth Rotterdam CityPoem, as part of Rotterdam Week.
Photo: Wouter Spoor
Rotterdam CityPoem: Rotterdam Cannot Be Filmed, Jules Deelder
Rotterdam cannot be filmed (literal translation, not poetic)
Rotterdam cannot be filmed
The images flash to quickly
Rotterdam does not have a past
And no old gable
Rotterdam is not romantic
Does not have time for nonsense
Is not open for suggestions
Does not listen to crap
The city is not sensitive to the camera
Does not seem nicer than it is
It lies square high and cornered
Tipped over in the backlight
Rotterdam is no illusion
Created by the camera
Rotterdam cannot be filmed
Rotterdam is way too real
About the author
Deelder was born in Rotterdam in 1944. At the age of eleven, he wrote his first poem ‘Listen, one casts an atomic bomb’. In 1969, his first debut collection appeared. Several collections followedd, and Deelder wrote short stories too. In the nineties, he frequently performed with Dutch rock’n’roll legend Herman Brood and collegue poet Bart Chabot. Deelder is also performer, (jazz-)drummer and is called ‘night mayor’ of Rotterdam. In 1988, Deelder received the Anna Blaman Prijs for his complete oeuvre. In 2005, the Tollens-prijs followed.
> See also Deelder’s website (in Dutch)
photo Wouter Spoor
- Rotterdam (1) - mirroring the water of the Singel
- Rotterdam (2) - Surinam's national poem
- Rotterdam (3) - on waste disposal trucks
- Rotterdam (4) - Lucebert's neon poem
- Rotterdam (5) - Rotterdam's night mayer Deelder
- Rotterdam (6) - for the visitors of Blaak market
- Rotterdam (7) - on a children's hospital
- Rotterdam (8) - by Leopold
- Rotterdam (9) - haikus on the pavement
- Rotterdam (10) - boomp boomp
Inspiring Cities Museum of CityPoems
Inspiring Cities has collected many citypoems over the years, as well as organized salons with citypoets and cities doing special projects. We have two criteria for what a citypoem is: the intention must be poetic, and it must be in the public realm of cities. Shapes, form and locations can and do differ.
The Museum of CityPoems has citypoems from cities all over the world. From Alhambra to Zonnebeke, from Taipei to Lima.
Got one yourself? Mail us your pictures (free of rights) and description, and we will publish.
Text in Dutch
Rotterdam is niet te filmen
Rotterdam is niet te filmen
De beelden wisselen te snel
Rotterdam heeft geen verleden
en geen enkele trapgevèl
Rotterdam is niet romantisch
heeft geen tijd voor flauwekul
is niet vatbaar voor suggesties
luistert niet naar slap gelul't
Is niet camera-gevoelig
lijkt niet mooier dan het is
Het ligt vierkant hoog en hoekig
gekanteld in het tegenlicht
Rotterdam is geen illusie
door de camera gewekt
Rotterdam is niet te filmen
Rotterdam is véels te echt