Discover the tile wisdom of Dolly Bellefleur:
A unique collection in the Smallest Museum of Haarlem

This year, Dolly Bellefleur, the iconic alter ego of comedian and rainbow activist Ruud Douma, celebrates her 35th anniversary. On the occasion of this anniversary, Verwey Museum Haarlem the exhibition Let love rule – Dolly Bellefleur 35 years on the barricades on view (until May 11, 2025), in which Dolly's colorful and urgent message takes center stage. In the Smallest Museum of Haarlem A smaller, but equally special exhibition can now be admired: a unique collection of tile wisdom that played a major role in the life of Dolly Bellefleur.

Tile wisdom
Do what you want, people will chat anyway – But your duty and your life is yours. This Frisian saying adorned a wall tile in the birthplace of comedian and rainbow activist Ruud Douma, better known as Dolly Bellefleur. His birthplace was full of this kind of tile wisdom. Even in the toilet he was kept on track with wise words such as The courtroom of conscience is in constant session.

Ruud says: “These kinds of sayings have ‘hammered’ me into feeling a huge sense of responsibility. I am not just in this world for my own pleasure. I realised at a very young age that I had to contribute to a better world. I have now collected hundreds of wall tiles with texts. They fascinate me so much because they suggest a kind of apparent grip on an often incomprehensible world. Nowadays I also make tiles myself with Dolly wisdoms on them, such as Today's rooster is tomorrow's feather duster en It's not about cuppy cuppie, it's about cuppy cuppy.”. The tiles from his youth and the unconditional love of his parents laid the foundation for his mission: as Dolly Bellefleur, 'Frau Antje from the Wrong Side', he has been convincingly bringing the message “Let love reign” for 35 years.

Smallest museum of Haarlem
The Smallest Museum of Haarlem presents a unique collection of well-known and lesser-known works five times a year Haarlemmer(s). The museum is part of the Art Center Haarlem and accessible 24 hours a day from the sidewalk. Art Center Haarlem is the art rental in the Kennemerland region has a collection of approximately 5000 works of art. The art center also has a shop and webshop with design. In addition to the art rental and a shop, Kunst Centrum presents Haarlem regularly holds exhibitions and organizes meetings with artists in its own gallery.