RECENTLY, when we think of the Netherlands, we all recall the Euro 2024 Quarter-Final match that we lost. However, the Netherlands is one of the countries with the highest investment in Turkey, home to more than 500,000 Turkish citizens, and the history of relations between the two countries dates back centuries, highlighting the significance of the Netherlands for Turkey. Joep Wijnands, the Dutch Ambassador to Ankara, who has been serving in Ankara for nearly two years, mentioned that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Turkey and the Netherlands and that many events are planned throughout the year to celebrate this occasion. Wijnands also noted that the Turkish-Dutch artist Karsu will perform at Atatürk Orman Çiftliği Natural Life Park on Friday, July 26, at 8:30 PM as part of these events, and this concert is a gift from the Netherlands to the people of Ankara. Ambassador Wijnands invited all residents of Ankara to attend the concert, which will be free of charge. Before the concert, Ambassador Wijnands answered our questions.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Turkey. What special celebration plans do you have for this centennial as the embassy?
First of all, I think we have a lot to celebrate because our partnership, our friendship, is truly deep and goes back a long way. It actually predates the 100-year friendship agreement. In 1600, we received trade rights from the Sultan. We were one of the first to obtain these trade rights. We have been doing business with each other for many years. But with the newly established Republic of Turkey, we signed a friendship agreement in 1924. Looking back over these 100 years, it’s impressive to see how much we have achieved together. For example, we are NATO allies. Given the current global security situation, this is extremely important. The alliance is proving to be more important than ever. According to Turkish statistics, we are Turkey’s largest direct foreign investor. We have more than 3,000 active Dutch companies represented in this country. Then, of course, we have a lot of cultural cooperation.
THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF MIGRATION
There is another special dimension to our relationship. There is a large and successful Turkish community in the Netherlands. The Turks in the Netherlands are the third largest Turkish community outside Turkey after those in Germany and France. We’re talking about approximately half a million people. Many of them are Dutch citizens of Turkish origin. This year, we are not only celebrating the 100th anniversary of our friendship but also the 60th anniversary of the first Turkish migrant workers being invited to the Netherlands by the Dutch government. We owe them a lot for the role they played in rebuilding our country. This, of course, was the recovery period after World War II. We needed all the help we could get. These migrant workers were invited by the Dutch government. And they contributed greatly to the construction of the economy we have today. The second and third generations of Turks have now become very successful in the Netherlands. Many of them are successful entrepreneurs who have established their own companies and are now investing in Turkey.
MIGRANT WOMEN ARE OFTEN FORGOTTEN
We have a beautiful photo exhibition dedicated to migrant workers. But here, women will be more prominent because female workers are often forgotten. People think that all those who came were men. But in the beginning, many women also decided to go to the Netherlands, a country they knew nothing about, start working there, and build their families there. A photo exhibition that tells the stories of these women will first open in Bursa. It will then go to Ankara, Istanbul, and Yozgat. Because Yozgat is one of the regions where many of the first-generation Turks who went to the Netherlands came from.
THE ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRAL BANK
In the second half of this year, the President of our Central Bank, Mr. Klaas Knot, will visit Turkey. Because 100 years ago, when the Republic of Turkey was established, Atatürk also wanted to establish a central bank. He thought that with the establishment of a new republic, there was a need for a central bank. He looked at examples in Europe and came to the Netherlands. He said that this was a good example. So he invited the then President of the Dutch Central Bank, Vissering, to come here and explain how the system worked in the Netherlands. Vissering worked on this for weeks and prepared a report for Atatürk. And this report formed the basis for the establishment of the Central Bank in Turkey. To celebrate this special collaboration and that moment, the President of the Dutch Central Bank will come here in September. He will give lectures in Istanbul and Ankara and, of course, talk with the President of the Turkish Central Bank. So, these are examples in the economic field.
ANKARA LANDSCAPE TO BE REFLECTED ON THE TEMPLE
Earlier this year, we held a beautiful concert at the ancient theater in Hierapolis. The Concertgebouw Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the Netherlands, performed together with Orkestra Akademik Başkent. As you know, the painting exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam was brought to Turkey after it was realized that the depicted location was not Aleppo but Ankara. The painting, titled ‘Ankara Landscape,’ which is currently on display at the Koç Museum, will be reflected on the Temple of Augustus next to the Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque.
TULIP BULBS FOR SCHOOLS
If you look at the logo of the 100 years of friendship, we made it a tulip and, of course, showed the Turkish and Dutch flags because the tulip is our national symbol. But it was brought to the Netherlands from here. We owe this to the Turks. We also sent a box of tulip bulbs along with children’s books to 100 schools across Turkey. The children planted these tulips in the ground, and then we received photos from different schools across the country showing the tulips blooming, beautifully symbolizing this gesture.
WE WILL SWIM IN THE BOSPHORUS
We are forming a Dutch-Turkish team with Dutch and Turkish participants for the Bosphorus race on August 25, and we will swim together in this event. I swam in the Bosphorus last year as well. Swimming in the Bosphorus is a fascinating experience. I was swimming while imagining that it is one of the busiest waterways in the world. They close it completely for a few hours just for this event. So, you realize that this is a special moment. It is closed to 3,000 swimmers from 80 different countries once a year. It is an extremely well-organized event by the Turkish Olympic Committee, and participating in this race and swimming from Asia to Europe was an honor for me.
LIVING IN ANKARA, A CITY WITH UNMATCHED CONNECTIONS
When it comes to human connections, I experience things here that I haven’t experienced in other countries. For example, when I walk down the street with my wife Carmen, some people come up and talk to us. They say that they have lived or worked in the Netherlands, or that they have a relative there. There are so many connections, so many people who know the Netherlands. I’ve never experienced this in any other country I’ve worked in. And again, this is the essence of this relationship. The level of cooperation is not only deep but also very broad. And I think this speaks volumes about the strong partnership and friendship between our countries.
KARSU IS AN AMAZING ARTIST
Why is the Karsu concert, which will take place this Friday as part of the events, important to you, and how did the concert process develop?
We wanted to make this year truly special, organizing many events throughout the year. The Karsu concert is a masterpiece for us because Karsu is huge. She is a beloved artist in both the Netherlands and Turkey. She symbolizes this friendship in a way that no one else does. She is of Turkish origin, and her family is from Hatay. They suffered greatly in the earthquake, losing many family members. Karsu did an incredible job in mobilizing Dutch society to help the victims. She donated the proceeds from her newly released cookbook to the victims, performed on television, and called on the Dutch who were ready to donate their instruments for the earthquake victims. She collected many instruments. There is a story behind each of these instruments. She brought all these instruments to Hatay. She opened a music school there. Now, many children and young people can learn music in Hatay. This is, of course, an important element in rebuilding lives after the tragic earthquakes. Karsu is a fantastic artist in so many ways.
A CULTURAL AMBASSADOR
In my opinion, she is the ambassador of the Netherlands in Turkey and of Turkey in the Netherlands. Therefore, her giving a concert to such a large audience in Ankara is a very important event that will crown our 100 years of friendship. The Municipality of Ankara is also supporting us in this concert.
You’ve been here for two years. How was your two years here?
It has been a very intense and sad process due to the earthquake. From the first day of the earthquake, as the Netherlands, like many other countries, we tried to do everything we could with search and rescue, medical assistance, and any other help we could provide. We are now in the process of looking at what our private sector can do in the reconstruction phase. Therefore, we really want to keep this region at the top of our agenda, knowing all the pain and needs that still exist.
