He died one day before official opening of his film Leef! (2005).
Ironically, the title can be translated as "Stay alive!" or
"Live!".
On the opening night of Leef! (2005), one day after his death, Maria Goos,
scriptwriter and close friend said: "Willem is not here, he is on
location hunt. He didn't want to, but he had to. So let's give him a
big hand." A standing ovation followed.