Turkish migrants in the Netherlands face social isolation

The first generation of Turkish labor migrants in the Netherlands faces increasing social isolation in their later years. While these individuals contributed significantly to the country's economic growth through factory and infrastructure work, they are now struggling to navigate a rapidly digitizing and individualistic society.

Physical barriers, such as inaccessible housing with steep stairs, combined with language gaps and a lack of digital literacy, have left many elderly migrants physically and socially confined. Research indicates that many feel invisible within their communities, often lacking the social support networks they relied on in their collective cultures.

Aziz Yilmaz, a migrant who arrived in Leiderdorp in 1971, exemplifies this generation's journey. After working as a metalworker for 12 years at Stork, he became involved in local politics and the Turkish Islamic Cultural Federation. To preserve the history of this migration for future generations, Yilmaz has compiled his collection of documents and personal history into a book.