[ discriminatiewijzer ] ( Rotterdam Inclusivity Project )

[ EXPERIENCES OF DISCRIMINATION IN ROTTERDAM ]

Behind data about discrimination are people’s experiences. Rotterdam residents share what they have experienced, how discrimination affects their daily lives and what they believe is important to tell. The stories show that discrimination can take different forms and occur in many different situations.

Read the stories

Explore personal experiences from Rotterdam residents and discover how discrimination is experienced at work, at school, in public space or in contact with organisations.

Testimonial 22
A man applied for a job in a restaurant. He was invited for a job interview. When he walked out of the interview, he heard one of the managers say: "He's too old, we don't want him."
[Age]

Testimonial 21
A woman’s employment contract expires during the pregnancy of her second child, after which she could receive a new temporary contract. However, during her maternity leave she receives the message that there will be no extension, because she will no longer be flexible enough after the arrival of her second child.
[Gender]

Testimonial 20
In various Facebook groups in which housing is offered and sought, the comment 'Dutch only' or 'Dutch girls only' can be seen in advertisements for rooms or apartments.
[Nationality]

Testimonial 19
A woman feels discriminated against by her bank because of her Russian nationality. She received a message that she was being placed on some sort of blacklist. She was informed that she will be monitored and that all applications will be assessed for a longer period of time. The account will be blocked if she has more than 100,000 euros are in her account. The woman has lived in the Netherlands for over 12 years, works here and pays taxes. She indicates that she is not responsible for the actions of the Russian government.
[Nationality]

Testimonial 18
A housing association does not want to adjust the rental contract they have with a transgender woman. The contract was drawn up before her gender transition. She now wants the previously concluded rental contract to be adjusted in line with her gender.
[Gender]

Testimonial 17
In the center of Rotterdam, two men put out a rainbow flag on their balcony. Not much later, eggs are thrown on their balcony. They feel unsafe because they think it has to do with the rainbow flag.
[Sexual orientation]

Testimonial 16
A Housing agency indicates that it does not rent out homes to men unless they live with a woman. A gay couple has tried to explain to the agency that in their case it concerns two men who are in a relationship with each other and they will therefore never live with a woman, but the agency maintains their rule.
[Sexual orientation]

Testimonial 14
A gay man tries to hide his sexual orientation from his manager who likes to joke about homosexuality and 'jokingly' calls colleagues gay. Higher management does nothing about the behavior of this manager and the man does not know where to turn for help within the organization.
[Sexual orientation]

Testimonial 13
A woman has a job interview at a store. Before the interview started, the person who did the interviewing said: ‘I'll get straight to the point, because I see that you are wearing a headscarf and we don’t hire people with headscarfs.’
[Religion]

Testimonial 12
A woman is walking with her son in a shopping center when out of nowhere two men scold her with 'cunt Muslim, cunt bitch, dirty Muslim, take off your headscarf, integrate, you are a welfare recipient, homophobic.' She is then spat on her feet and told: 'That's how you do it too in your culture.'
[Religion]

Testimonial 11
Anti-Semitic statements are made during a demonstration in the city centre of Rotterdam against covid measures. A man shouts 'Stink Jews' and 'Heil Hitler'.
[Religion]

Testimonial 10
A man with a visual impairment wants to use the municipality's transport facilities for people with disabilities. When he is picked up in Rotterdam IJsselmonde, the driver does not allow him on the bus because he has his guide dog with him.
[Disability/chronic illness]

Testimonial 09
A employee wanted to work less hours a week due to an invisible disability. However, her team manager made no effort to understand her situation. Due to a psychological condition, the woman is unable to work 40 hours and feels discriminated against by the lack of inclusive policy.
[Disability/chronic illness]

Testimonial 08
A woman arrived at a lunchroom with her guide dog. Because she saw a sticker that said: 'forbidden for dogs', she went to an employee to say that this was not a regular pet but her guide dog. However, she was still refused.
[Disability/chronic illness]

Testimonial 07
Man works in the port of Rotterdam. He reports the very poor working conditions for him and his colleagues with a migration background and the racist treatment of his manager. The workplace is unsanitary and dilapidated and the work clothes are poor. The immediate manager insults the employees based on their skin color and descent. The signals that employees share with the employer are ignored.
[Origin and skin colour]

Testimonial 06
A group of friends are at a music festival where they are subjected to several racist insults. During a busy concert they are told: 'you black n* are dirty, don't touch me.' When one of the women accidentally bumps into another couple, they tell her: 'those black people think they can do anything.'
[Origin and skin colour]

Testimonial 05
Activities for kids are being organized in Rotterdam Feijenoord one afternoon. When a family (with a migration background) arrives, they are not allowed in because they are told the activities are full. The family can see that there is visibly enough space. When they call the organization over the phone and ask for availability in their accent-free Dutch, they are immediately told that there is plenty of room.
[Origin and skin colour]

Testimonial 03
A man feels discriminated against by his manager. His manager told another colleague that he was a 'lazy Surinamese'. He was also not allowed to listen to 'n* music' in the workplace. The manager also said that it was a fact that crime dropped during Ramadan.
[Origin and skin colour]

Testimonial 02
A woman wants to buy a second hand mobile home at a holiday park. When she goes to the owner of the holiday park for the administrative process she is told that the sale of the mobile home cannot take place because they do not like 'foreigners' at this holiday park. When the woman later calls the owner to inquire whether she, as a Moroccan, can get a place in the park, the owner says that he does not discriminate, but that people come to the park for their rest and do not want to meet people with headscarves.
[Origin and skin colour]

Testimonial 01
Man of Surinamese descent indicates that he is discriminated at work by managers and colleagues. For example, they call him 'Bokito*' or throw bananas at him. They say they are just kidding.
[Origin and skin colour]

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