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A new academic study examining the experiences of Turkish-origin migrants in Amsterdam has found that most participants consider the Dutch capital a safe place to live, despite concerns about discrimination, unequal opportunities and certain neighborhoods.
The research, conducted by Mehmet Demirbas of the Turkish National Police Academy and published in the Turkish Journal of Forensic Science and Crime Studies in 2026, found that 29 of the 39 participants generally regarded Amsterdam as safe, with women particularly emphasizing their ability to move freely at night.
The study also revealed that feelings of security do not necessarily go hand in hand with a sense of equality or belonging, as participants distinguished between their everyday safety and their experiences with Dutch institutions.
The research drew on interviews with 22 men and 17 women between January and May 2025, alongside field observations in Amsterdam-West and Amsterdam-Oost, including areas with established Turkish-origin communities.
Among the participants, 14 of the 17 women and 15 of the 22 men described Amsterdam as generally safe.
Unlike findings in some previous studies suggesting that women experience greater fear of crime than men, female participants in this research did not report higher levels of fear.
Instead, women frequently compared their experiences in the Netherlands with those in Türkiye, particularly when discussing their ability to walk alone after dark.
A 31-year-old woman born and raised in the Netherlands said she felt comfortable walking home late at night while listening to music, whereas visits to Istanbul made her more cautious about potential dangers.
Another participant, a 22-year-old woman with family roots in Karaman, similarly described Amsterdam as safer than Türkiye, explaining that she could walk alone late at night without experiencing the same concerns.
However, participants did not consider every part of Amsterdam equally safe. Some expressed concerns about theft, illegal drug dealing and disturbances in tourist-heavy areas, particularly after dark.
The researchers identified perceptions of neighborhood-related and ethnic risks in 17 interviews, with such concerns appearing more frequently among men.
These accounts reflected participants' personal experiences and perceptions rather than evidence linking particular ethnic communities to criminal behavior.
Despite positive assessments of public safety, the study found that discrimination remained a significant concern for Turkish-origin residents.
Perceived institutional discrimination appeared in 23 participants' accounts, while 15 discussed personal experiences of discrimination or incidents reported by people close to them.
Participants particularly pointed to unequal treatment in schools, internships, recruitment and career advancement.
Some believed that foreign-sounding or Muslim names could put applicants at a disadvantage when seeking employment or promotions.
One 27-year-old woman, who was born in the Netherlands and wears a headscarf, reported that her graduation internship had been terminated without explanation. She said a higher review committee subsequently upheld her complaint, although she could not establish whether her Turkish background or headscarf had influenced the decision.
Other participants raised concerns about students from migrant families being steered toward vocational education rather than university-preparatory programs, potentially affecting their future opportunities.
The study emphasized that these accounts reflected perceived or reported discrimination and did not establish discriminatory intent in every individual case.
Nevertheless, such experiences shaped participants' views of equality, justice and social acceptance without necessarily increasing their fear of becoming crime victims.
The research also examined how Turkish-origin migrants balance their cultural background with their lives in the Netherlands.
Of the 39 participants, 30 described a hybrid or third identity, combining elements of Turkish and Dutch belonging rather than identifying exclusively with either country.
Emotional attachment to Türkiye appeared in 23 participants' accounts, often through family ties, cultural traditions and memories.
For many women, however, their sense of belonging to the Netherlands was closely connected to personal freedom, daily living conditions and the lives they had built there.
A 28-year-old woman born in the Netherlands described the emotional distinction between the two countries by referring to the Netherlands as her home and Türkiye as her paradise.
Field observations also showed younger generations naturally switching between Turkish and Dutch in everyday conversations, while community organizations and social networks helped maintain cultural connections.
Police relations formed another part of the research, although many participants had little direct experience with law enforcement.
Twenty-two participants reported no personal contact with police, while seven described negative experiences or incidents involving people in their social circles.
Some participants questioned whether police adequately followed up on reported incidents, including property damage and bicycle theft.
Others described police interactions as respectful and professional, suggesting that assessments of law enforcement varied according to personal experiences and expectations.
The study found that limited police contact did not automatically indicate greater institutional trust. Instead, participants often associated their lack of interaction with police with the absence of serious security problems in their daily lives.
The research concluded that feelings of safety among Turkish-origin migrants are shaped by several interconnected factors, including freedom of movement, neighborhood conditions, cultural belonging, discrimination and confidence in public institutions.
Although participants generally viewed Amsterdam as safe, their experiences highlighted how a person can feel protected from crime while still questioning whether they receive equal treatment in society.
The study, supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) through its international postdoctoral research fellowship program, was based on qualitative interviews rather than a statistically representative survey.
Its findings therefore describe the experiences of the 39 participants and cannot be generalized to all Turkish-origin residents of Amsterdam.
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