Who is Ben Akkerman?

From a creative ambition to the optical profession

Ben initially wanted to become an artist and dreamed of attending theatre school in Amsterdam. His father was an optician. In his interview with Curated Optics, he describes their agreement: he would try optical school for one year. If it did not suit him, he could pursue his artistic ambitions. Instead, he was fascinated almost immediately, completed his education and stayed in optics.

In that conversation, Ben dates the beginning of his career to 1959. He has witnessed the profession evolve from simple tools to sophisticated measuring instruments. What has remained constant is his interest in the person behind the glasses. For him, technical knowledge and creativity are not opposites: each makes the other more meaningful.

A Rotterdam career with an international story

Ben brought fashion, form and character into the optical profession. A frame can be more than a solution for vision: it can change how a person presents themselves. Regional broadcaster Rijnmond reports that he designed eyewear for Elton John and Lou Rawls, among others. These stories show that his work attracted attention beyond the Netherlands.

Dutch publication De Ondernemer describes him as ‘the hippest optician in the Netherlands’. Curated Optics interviews him about his influence on the world of eyewear. These are editorial descriptions of a long career, not official rankings. His distinctive approach is to stay curious, choose carefully and place the conversation with each client at the centre.

Knowledge beyond the brand name

In his conversation with Curated Optics, Ben stresses genuine interest and sharing knowledge. An independent optician reveals the world beyond familiar licensed brands. What matters is not only the name on the temple, but the maker, the materials and the thinking behind a design.

He puts that approach into practice at Eyeclusive with Ingrid, Reza and Sandra. Together, they consider proportion, fit, comfort and personality. Experience becomes valuable when it makes a choice clearer. The aim is not to impose a style, but to discover the frame that truly belongs to the person wearing it.

Eyeclusive: Ben Akkerman’s current studio

Today, Ben is the proud founder of Eyeclusive at Nieuwe Binnenweg 129A in Rotterdam. If you are looking for Ben Akkerman as an optician, this is his current studio and team. The collection brings together independent makers including Jacques Marie Mage, Linda Farrow and Mykita. Their different approaches to shape and material reflect his interest in eyewear with a story of its own.

Eyeclusive is Rotterdam’s Jacques Marie Mage experience centre. Ben and Team Eyeclusive guide you through JMM frames and limited editions. Availability changes; contact the studio before visiting if you are looking for a particular model. A visit is about taking time to try and compare, considering both the design and how you need to see.

Yclusive: designing from experience

With Yclusive, Ben translates his experience into his own eyewear collection. ‘Big, Bold and Limited’ describes its direction: larger, expressive frames in small editions. The starting point is not a trend, but the need for shapes with space, character and a considered fit. Yclusive makes his creative background tangible and forms part of the Eyeclusive collection.

Looking for the best optician in Rotterdam or the Netherlands?

We do not present ‘the best optician’ here as an independently proven award. For Ben, good advice begins with attention: listening to how you live, discovering what suits you and measuring carefully. His long experience, original design work and personal approach are reasons to get to know him.

At Eyeclusive, that approach comes together with ZEISS eye measurements and personal lens advice. We receive visitors almost exclusively by appointment, leaving time for your eyes, your questions and your next frame. A well-chosen pair of glasses is not the end of a sales conversation, but the beginning of something you wear every day.