A Success Story: 60 Years of the Turkish Community Presence in the Netherlands

Taking the floor at the reception titled ‘From One Generation to Another: 60th Anniversary of the Turkish Diaspora Presence in the Netherlands’, the Head of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) Abdullah Eren said that the Turkish community in the Netherlands has offered a lot to the country's current position.

Organised by YTB in an effort to mark and commemorate the 60^th anniversary of Turkish labour immigration to the Netherlands, which was kicked off by the Labour Agreement signed by and between Türkiye and the Netherlands on August 19, 1964, the reception titled ‘From One Generation to Another: 60^th Anniversary of Turkish Diaspora Presence in the Netherlands’ was held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The event was attended by YTB President Abdullah Eren, Turkish Ambassador to The Hague Selçuk Ünal, Consul General of Türkiye in Amsterdam Mahmut Burak Ersoy, Consul General of Türkiye in Rotterdam Sevgi Kısacık, Director General for Social Security and Integration of the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour Araya Sumter, artist Karsu Dönmez and the Turkish community members residing in the Netherlands. Ahead of the ceremony, a message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan was read out.

YTB President Abdullah Eren addressed the crowd during the event. Mr. Eren noted that the Turkish community in the Netherlands has offered a lot to the current position of the Netherlands, and added: ‘The Turkish community here now holds key positions and has grown into a crucial segment of the country. 60 Years of the Turkish community presence in the Netherlands is a success story.”

 Informing that YTB organises many different events and programmes every year to meet the needs of Turkish nationals abroad, Eren said that the number of activities will continue to rise.

Türkiye's Ambassador to The Hague Selçuk Ünal stated that the relations between the Netherlands and Türkiye date much further back and are quite strong. Ünal noted that the presence of the Turkish community in the Netherlands, which enjoys a culture of coexistence, is getting stronger.

Araya Sumter, Director General for Social Security and Integration of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour of the Netherlands, remarked that Turks have assumed major roles in building modern-day Netherlands and that Turks who migrated 60 years ago to set up a new life for themselves have established profound ties in the country.

 Videos and documentaries were displayed on the occasion of the reception to promote the services provided by YTB for the Turkish nationals abroad.

The event was followed by the presentation of symbolic plaques to honour the achievements of the diaspora members under various categories ranging from business world to academics, sports to culture & arts.