ANTARES - PERISCOOP

When Paul Stelder said goodbye, we knew it had to be more than a bunch of flowers. So we turned to a local icon for inspiration: the Ald Weishoès in the heart of Venlo, a place packed with stories—and mice, apparently.

Client

Antares

Services

Concept development, storytelling, illustration direction, project coordination

Team

Daan de Haan

Partners

Saverieau, Digital Donkey, Bob Strik, Bronsgieterij Welten

Strategy

We wanted a gift that would last, reflect Paul’s legacy, and honour the historic building he helped bring back to life. By digging into the past and mixing craft with creativity, we shaped an idea that felt just right: a bronze artwork, rooted in place and memory.

Approach

We kicked things off with an authentic photo of a bench in front of the Ald Weishoès. Illustrator Saverieau sketched five quirky mice, each with a nod to the building’s past. Digital Donkey turned the sketches into 3D digital models, which Bob Strik printed and passed on to Bronsgieterij Welten—who cast them in solid bronze. Full circle, full character.

Result

A playful bronze sculpture of five mice on a bench, full of hidden meaning and local love. It now lives in front of the Ald Weishoès, right where the original photo was taken. A permanent tribute to Paul—and to the stories that make Venlo what it is.