On March 20, 2025, the official launch of the new website, discriminatiewijzer.nl, took place during the annual conference against racism and discrimination. In the atmospheric Theater Walhalla, Rotterdam residents, researchers, activists, policymakers, and other interested parties came together to engage in dialogue about the impact of discrimination, racism, and the mechanisms behind them. The event was organized by IDEM Rotterdam and the anti-discrimination agency RADAR.
The afternoon began with a lecture by Peggy Wijntuin, an expert on Rotterdam’s colonial and slavery past. She illustrated how racism remains a deeply rooted social phenomenon in Dutch society. Through personal experiences—both her own and those of her ancestors—she highlighted how historical power structures continue to shape contemporary social dynamics. Wijntuin emphasized that she is only the third generation in her family to be born into freedom. In her lecture, she stressed that racism is not just a collection of isolated incidents, but a system of social hierarchy that reproduces itself within institutions, language, and policies.
Rotterdam Inclusivity Project
A key moment of the conference was the official launch of the new website for the Rotterdam Inclusivity Project. Following an informative presentation by project coordinator Asya Pisarevskaya on discriminatiewijzer.nl, project leader Peter Scholten (Erasmus University) and senior researcher Fattana Mirzada (RADAR) discussed the patterns of discrimination in Rotterdam. Data from the platform reveals that certain neighbourhoods and groups are disproportionately affected, often due to a combination of social, economic, and institutional factors.
The new website serves as a platform that makes this data on discrimination accessible and transparent, helping people to recognize and acknowledge different forms of discrimination. Scholten emphasized that while statistics do not provide solutions, they do expose the structural mechanisms behind discrimination.
Panel discussion on polarization
During the panel discussion, Melek Erdoğan (SPIOR), Fayaaz Joemmanbaks (Movisie), and Roos Ykema (MiGreat) explored how polarization can also serve discourse. By deliberately highlighting societal issues in a polarizing way, certain problems that might otherwise be normalized receive greater attention and urgency. A striking example is MiGreat, an organization advocating for a world without borders. Ykema explained: “When rejected asylum seekers are deported, it often happens as discreetly as possible. Most people don’t even realize that they’re sitting amongst us on the plane.” MiGreat takes action by encouraging passengers to stand up before takeoff, preventing the flight from departing. “You almost always see that it affects people, and at least one person stands up,” Ykema added.
Erdoğan highlighted the clear shifts since the rise of the far-right Dutch government, explaining how the government takes an open stance in their opinions that fuels discrimination and exclusion, particularly against Dutch Muslims. Joemmanbaks further noted that those who view their privileged position as the norm often fear losing it. Instead of addressing systemic issues, blame is frequently shifted onto minority groups. Research, however, shows that structural inequality disproportionately impacts specific groups, including Black individuals, Moroccan men, women who wear hijabs, and queer people.
Theater as a conversation starter
To close the conference, Stichting Confro presented an interactive theater performance focusing on social categorization and identity formation. The performers challenged the audience with the question: “What ‘coat’ do you wear that you cannot simply take off?” The performance functioned as a social experiment, encouraging attendees to reflect on their intersecting identities and societal roles. This led to honest conversations and deep reflections on privilege and exclusion, with tears shed in the process.
The event concluded with a networking reception, where participants continued discussions and explored the new website. The launch of discriminatiewijzer.nl marks an important step in making scientific research on discrimination in Rotterdam accessible to a broader audience.