In November 2025, an artwork by artist Q.S. Serafijn and architect Jan Willem Terlouw was unveiled in the Palenstein neighborhood of Zoetermeer. What is special about this is that Q.S. has since passed away. He worked on the sketch design from his hospital bed, but never knew that the artwork would actually be realized. Esther Didden talked with widow Anneloes van der Leun and Jan Willem Terlouw.
The collaboration between Q.S. Seraphim and Terlouw began with the artwork Mannes, a six-and-a-half-meter dog that stands on the station square in Assen and is seen by BK Information in 2020 was declared one of 100 key works, which are works of art that are or have been artistically, historically, spatially or socially significant.
Both liked that collaboration and since then they have participated in several competitions together, Terlouw says. Quite a few times they made it to the final three but this work of art in Palenstein is the first one they were actually allowed to realize. "We did not have a fixed method of working and that is what made the cooperation so pleasant," Terlouw says. "It was more of a joint search and that regularly led to surprising things."
There also had to be a work of art, the residents and the municipality thought. And so it happened.
Palenstein was created in 1966. Close to the center, the sought-after residential neighborhood has a convenient location. More than half a century after its creation, the neighborhood was in need of a thorough facelift, and in recent years it has undergone extensive restructuring. A work of art was also needed, the residents and municipality thought. And so it happened. The commission for Palenstein was a suitable assignment for Q.S., says Van der Leun. The request was to create a meeting place for residents and to involve the residents, but otherwise there was a lot of freedom. For example, no location had yet been determined for the work of art; the artist was allowed to make his own proposal.
The top of the artwork is an Italian percolator with eight sides
Municipality of Zoetermeer placed a call in BK Information. From fifty-nine entries, four artists were chosen to create a sketch design. Q.S. Serafijn and Terlouw designed a work of art and landmark in one. The sketch design presentation was scheduled for June 12, 2024. A month earlier, on May 11, 2024, Q.S. Serafijn was hospitalized. A diagnosis followed on May 17 and he passed away on June 1, 2024. Things moved quickly. Van der Leun and Terlouw did the presentation together. "I wanted the talk to be about work and not about the death of Q.S.," Van der Leun says. That's why she went in his place. According to Van der Leun, Q.S. was a real coffee drinker. "Everyday coffee drinking was an inspiration for the artwork. At the hospital and hospice, he continued to work on the sketch design. The top of the artwork is an Italian percolator with eight sides. Those sides continue into the wooden pedestal on which the percolator stands. Q.S. used Bob Dylan's song "One More Cup of Coffee" as inspiration. Phrases from this song are on those eight sides."
Because the artwork is taller than five meters, the new environmental law from 2024 was in effect
It took several months before the Zoetermeer municipality informed Terlouw that their artwork had been selected and a final design could be made. In this, Terlouw and Van der Leun pulled together. They drew up a precise budget and looked for companies to execute it. The plan fitted neatly within the budget; no concessions had to be made. In January 2025, the green light was officially given and realization could begin.
There appeared to be one more hurdle to overcome, the environmental permit. Because the artwork is taller than five meters, the new environmental law from 2024 was in effect. The object had to be aesthetically and technically inspected. The technical check was not done by the municipality itself, but had to be done by a quality assurance company, an external party that Terlouw and Van der Leun had to go after themselves. This led to delays.
On Nov. 5, 2025, the artwork was unveiled. Van der Leun asked Sjarel Ex, former director of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, to give a speech. She felt it was important to have a moment posthumously in which to reflect on the artistry of Q.S. Serafine. Ex and Q.S. occasionally drank a cup of coffee together. Ex called herself a fan of (the work of) Q.S. Seraphim.
Sjarel Ex: "Q.S. recognized that the meaning of art in life is hard to grasp"
A quote from Ex's speech, "Being an artist was a vocation of vital importance, and it had to be exercised in complete freedom and independence. But at the same time, he [Q.S.] recognized that the meaning of art in life is difficult to grasp, remains diffuse, often cannot simply be filled in. Perhaps that is why he became increasingly fascinated in making artworks for public spaces. Interested in bringing art to people. Making art audiences visible, outside of museums and galleries. Q.S. wanted to be seen and heard because he still had so much to say."
English 
Dutch