female Turkish pioneers
of Haarlem to Turkey
After a successful period in our museum, the exhibition travels Turkish women pioneers since May 2024 by Turkey. The exhibition, which tells the stories of Turkish women in the Netherlands, is not only a reflection of the history of migration, but also a tribute to the (resilience) of the female pioneers who had to find themselves in a new culture.
In 2024 it will be sixty years since the first Turkish guest workers came to Haarlem came. Not only men, but also women made the journey to the Netherlands. Turkish women pioneers tells the story of the first, second and third generation of Turkish women in Haarlem, as well as those who returned to Turkey after a while. Stories of strong, female pioneers who had to build a new life in the Netherlands, who learned to deal with a double culture with all its advantages and disadvantages.
Four generations now live here Haarlem, who were and are pioneers in their own time. Using interviews, photos and videos with women from different generations, the exhibition outlines the lives of female Turkish pioneers from different generations. How did they end up in the Netherlands, what was their life like when they first arrived here and what did they encounter? How do you deal with the cultural differences, then and now?
What makes this exhibition extra special is the way in which these stories are not only relevant to the Netherlands, but also to Turkey. After all, these stories will be recognizable to many people in Turkey. Thanks to the Dutch Embassy and the Dutch Social Insurance Bank in Turkey, the exhibition is now traveling through various Turkish cities, including Bursa, Emirdaǧ, Ankara, Istanbul – Beyoglu, Yozgat, Karaman, Gaziantep and Eskişehir. The exhibition will travel through Turkey until at least mid-2025.
Turkish Women Pioneers in Gaziantep to Celebrate National Migrants Day
The exhibition will be held on December 12 and 13 Turkish Women Pioneers presented in Gaziantep, on the occasion of National Migrants Day on December 18. This special event is organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Institute for Migration of Gaziantep University. The weekend will celebrate the rich diversity and talents of migrant communities, with special events, performances, panel discussions and other programs.
Watch the video below for a glimpse of this impressive exhibition in Gaziantep!
Ayse Demiral
Her grandfather was the first of the family to come to the Netherlands in the 1970s. She sees growing up with two cultures as an enrichment, not as a limitation. The first generation had so much trouble and her generation has it easier. They have paved the way for them so that they, Ayse and her children, encounter fewer obstacles. Education really makes a big difference between generations. Her mother was illiterate. She was not allowed to go to school in her youth, as that was taboo for women. Ayse was allowed to go to school and was able to study. What makes her Dutch? Freedom. You also have that in Turkey, but in a different way. Here you have more freedom and more options. Here you can choose what you want to become. She has adopted cooking and Turkish culture and would also pass it on to her daughter. Just like the tradition of getting together with the family, that is important to her.
Fadime Kocaman
In 1960, Fadime Kocaman emigrated with her family to the Netherlands, looking for work and the opportunity to buy a house. The economic situation in Turkey at the time was extremely difficult. The beginning was challenging for the family, as they did not speak the language, but they gradually adapted. Nowadays, they visit the Netherlands once a year. They managed to buy a house and save money. They now enjoy their time in Turkey and the money they have earned through hard work. Fadime returned to her hometown out of homesickness. She notes that many changes have occurred in Turkey, especially in the rising cost of living.
Collaboration with the Turkish community in the Netherlands and Turkey
Because we believe it is very important that this exhibition emerges from and is supported by the Turkish community in Haarlem, there has been close collaboration with Turkish women who want to tell their story and have a large network in the Turkish community. Together with them, the content and the most important themes and angles of the exhibition have been determined.