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This beautifully stylised dolphin once stood atop villa 'De Dolphijn' on the posh Badhuisweg. This building at number 141 was built between 1901 and 1904 by the architect S. de Clercq, who later became (regionally) famous, and mechanical engineer J.J.L. Bourdrez. Sculptor Jan Altorf made the striking sculpture on the roof.

The dolphin is a prime example of what is called architecture sculpture, an art form that came into vogue around 1900. Although the animal does not form a whole with the architecture, the way in which it is carved from a single block of stone is comparable to the working method of artists such as Hildo Krop (Amsterdam School) and the slightly older Lambertus Zijl. Not one part, not even the tail, sticks out of the block. That and the strong stylisation make it look decorative. The fact that an animal is depicted is typical of Altorf. The same applies to the meticulous finish and the use of bevelled corners.

But how did such a statue for a villa end up in the Zuiderpark? In 1938, the villa had to make way for new construction: the Dennehove flat was built in its place. The statue on the roof was bought by Mr C.J. Driesschen. He was an inspector at the Stichting Haagse Sport en Speelterreinen, which from 1947 became the Stichting Lichamelijke Opvoeding. This man donated the statue, together with a bench, to the foundation in 1940 and had them both placed next to the pond in the Zuiderpark near the ADO grounds.

In the 1970s, the grounds of the flounder pond were converted into a model railway. At the time, the dolphin was given a place at the entrance. Today, the animal flanks the bridge on the Johanna Naberweg in the middle of the park.