Turkey’s Muslim Diasporas in the Netherlands

In line with the global trend, Turkey has pursued a proactive diaspora policy for more than a decade. In the Netherlands this engagement has produced a core group of Dutch-Turkish citizens who are ideologically attached to the AKP and specifically to the party’s leadership. These developments have played out in a context of heated debates on integration in the Netherlands and the rise of far-right parties with very negative attitudes towards migration and Islam.

This report provides an overview of the legal and political context in the Netherlands and explores the integration trends and debates, with a particular focus on the religious realm. It surveys the conversative Turkish diaspora in the Netherlands and reflects on the issues raised by the public debates on migration, racism and discrimination, Islam and the role of Turkish actors. While the Turkish diaspora communities in the Netherlands are diverse, the parallel trends of rising anti-migrant and anti-Islam rhetoric and growing support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan give grounds for concern.