Turks form the bridge between the Eastern and Western worlds. With a population of about 50,000 in Rotterdam, Turks make up about 8% of the city's residents, making them the second-largest minority group in the city.
Turks have been in the Netherlands for a long time, many having come to the country and to Rotterdam since the 1960s and 1970s to find work. Of course, there is a lot of diversity within Turkish community. There are Turks who come directly from Turkey, Turks born and raised in the Netherlands, and Turks of Kurdish origin.
Many Turks live in Rotterdam-Zuid, for example in the Feijenoord district. Half of Rotterdam's Muslim population has a Turkish background, making them one of the most important population groups in our city. Interestingly, their native Turkey was once the centre of the Eastern Christian world. But when Constantinople became Istanbul after falling to the Ottomans in 1453, Islam replaced Christianity as the area's dominant religion.
Turks are hospitable, they value community and are great party people (anyone who has attended a Turkish wedding knows all about it). Their cultural history and traditions are rich and extensive and worth exploring as they can pave the way for engaging conversations.