Rotterdam hosts city-wide talks to bridge divides and tackle discrimination
Rotterdam is bringing together diverse communities for honest conversations on discrimination ahead of the International Day Against Racism. Residents will discuss ways to combat exclusion and strengthen mutual understanding, with insights shaping local policy.
| Event | Date | Location | Key Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conference on Discrimination | March 24, 2026 | Theater Walhalla | Policy advisors, experts |
| Stadsgesprek XL | April 2, 2026 | Wereldmuseum | Alderman Achbar, Rotterdammers |
| Campaign | Focus | Reporting Platform | Organizer |
| See it. Say it. Report it. | Awareness, action | Discriminatie.nl | Municipality of Rotterdam |
The Municipality of Rotterdam organizes these events as part of its broader efforts to foster social cohesion and address discrimination through policy and community engagement. The city uses feedback from such dialogues to refine its Action Plan for Living Together in One City.
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Honest and valuable conversation about discrimination
March 21 is the International Day Against Racism and Discrimination. In Rotterdam, a conference and a Stadsgesprek XL (City Talk XL) on this topic will take place. During these events, Rotterdammers who rarely encounter each other in daily life will engage in conversation.
Worldwide, March 21 is dedicated to raising awareness about racism and various forms of discrimination. There will be no event in Rotterdam on that day itself. However, on March 24, a conference on discrimination and racism will be held at Theater Walhalla. On April 2, the municipality will organize a Stadsgesprek XL at the Wereldmuseum (World Museum), featuring alderman Achbar, among others, responsible for coexistence.
Sometimes challenging conversations
‘In recent years, there have been city talks on topics that affect people, such as discrimination and exclusion,’ says Yasmine Bouchrit, policy advisor in the Coexistence team. ‘These were mainly like-minded individuals discussing coexistence in Rotterdam. The conversations were honest, sometimes challenging, but above all valuable.’
Connecting different Rotterdammers
In 2026, the focus will be on bringing Rotterdammers together who do not or rarely meet in daily life. ‘During the Stadsgesprek XL, Rotterdammers from different communities, which participated in city talks in 2025, will engage in conversation with each other,’ explains Yasmine. ‘I expect a meaningful gathering with significant conversations.’
Combating ‘us vs. them’ thinking
The municipality facilitates these city talks for several reasons, Yasmine notes. ‘To combat ‘us vs. them’ thinking, strengthen communities, and foster greater mutual understanding. It is also very valuable for us to learn what people find important and how we, as a municipality, can improve our efforts.’
Campaign against discrimination
These city talks are linked to the Action Plan for Living Together in One City, which the municipality has been implementing since 2023. This plan also led to the campaign *See it. Say it. Report it.* Through this campaign, the municipality aims to: • raise awareness among Rotterdammers about discrimination: *see it.* • encourage Rotterdammers who witness discrimination against others to speak up: *say it.* • and ensure that Rotterdammers report discrimination to the right place: *report it.*
Discrimination can be reported to an employer, the police, or online via Discriminatie.nl. A contact person from RADAR will then reach out to discuss the matter and provide advice.
International Day
The International Day Against Racism and Discrimination was established by the United Nations. The day commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa in 1960, when a protest against apartheid policies was violently suppressed by police, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Black demonstrators.