Amsterdam is a city of migrants, but rarely do they speak up and share their stories. Migrant Voices is a storytelling project collecting testimonies of first-generation migrants living in the city. Stories are told through text and podcasts. Migrants speak about why they came to the Netherlands, the lives they built, and the impact they have on the city and country. When many in the Netherlands and around the world turn their backs on migrants, we listen to their voices.
Amsterdam is a city of migrants, but rarely do they speak up and share their stories. Migrant Voices is a storytelling project collecting testimonies of first-generation migrants living in the city. Stories are told through text and podcasts. Migrants speak about why they came to the Netherlands, the lives they built, and the impact they have on the city and country. When many in the Netherlands and around the world turn their backs on migrants, we listen to their voices.
Originally from Istanbul, Türkiye
Living in Amsterdam for 5 years
A DJ and works at a coffee shop
Eray “Ray” Hadzhaoglu never felt like he belonged in his home country of Türkiye. He lived with his grandparents and studied English in school. After graduating, he was a league-level gamer with success, but he didn’t feel accepted by the majority culture.
“They try to implement their lifestyle on you because they think it is the right thing. But they kind of don't give you any choice. I just didn't want to be there at that point because I'm a free person, if I ever be gay or if I ever wanted to explore it, I couldn't do that in Turkey. If I ever want to get a tattoo or go to raves or do music, I couldn't do that there. After 10 or 12, you can't play music; it's banned. It's a very oppressed state now.”
While playing games online, he chatted with people from around Europe and learned about life in Amsterdam. “It sounds like a little weird utopia state. It kind of sounded nice.” He left Turkey, first living in Belgium, Germany, and France before arriving in the Netherlands.
“I lived in the Netherlands for five years and I lived in seven different houses already.”
The worst place he lived was a 17 square meter room in Amsterdam Zuid. When his mom moved to Amsterdam to join him, he needed a place where they could both live and be registered with the city. Despite being located in a nice part of the city, the home was unfinished and in need of repairs.
After leaving the house in Amsterdam Zuid, his mother returned to Turkey, but Ray continued to make his life in Amsterdam. After four years in substandard housing and exploitative situations, Ray has found a comfortable and safe space in Amsterdam West.
“I live with my best friend and his ma and she's the sweetest person ever. She's a very nice human being. The house is amazing we have a pet here it's like when you are sad you just pet the dog and kind of fixes it. Now I finally have my computer, etc so I feel like this is my own room and having a friend just helps a lot because you can just talk. It just looks like a house, a very livable house.”
Ray has found a community in Amsterdam and a place he wants to stay.
“I think that Amsterdam is home. I have so many friends now here. Yeah, it definitely feels like home because when I lived in Turkey, I was asocial, just a person that played with the computer. I didn't have any real friends. Now the things feel a little bit more real and better.”
“Oh hell yeah, the journey was worth it!”