Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends and partners,
Today we pause to mark a special moment. We are not only beginning a new year together, but we are also celebrating the sixth anniversary of our organization: the Leiden Migrant Support Desk. On 9 January 2020, our board members signed the deed of incorporation. With that act, a vision became reality—a vision of connection, cooperation, and a just society in which no one is invisible and no one is left behind.
Over the past six years, we have built something greater than a project or an organization. We have built trust. We have built human dignity. We have worked toward a society in which migrants are not merely “present,” but are able to participate, to have a say, and to shape their future here.
The path has not always been easy. We have sown and planted. We have encountered obstacles. But above all, we have witnessed the immense strength, resilience, and solidarity that exist within our community.
When we began, we asked ourselves several fundamental questions. What does the future of migration in the Netherlands and Europe look like? What role can we play as a civic initiative? How do we give a voice to people who are so often unheard? And which core issues must we address to achieve genuine social justice?
Today, those questions may be even more urgent than they were six years ago.
Migration is not a marginal issue. It is one of the most important social themes of our time. It unfolds at the international level, yet it directly affects daily life here in the Netherlands—in our neighborhoods, in our schools, and in our economy.
In 2025, we saw just how deeply this issue affects our society. Once again, a government collapsed over asylum and migration. New laws and policy proposals increased pressure on refugees and migrants. People leave their countries out of necessity, only to face distrust, insecurity, or even criminalization here—despite the fact that they have done nothing more than seek safety, work, or a dignified life.
At the same time, we see polarization growing. Poverty is increasing. Security is becoming scarcer, particularly for people with a migration background. All of this affects integration, participation, and trust—while so many migrants are eager to contribute, to take responsibility, and to help build a stronger society together.
That is why we must dare to ask ourselves honest questions.
Is migration a crime?
Or is it—just as it has always been—a part of human history?
Are migrants a problem?
Or are they, in many cases, part of the solution to labor shortages, economic growth, and cultural enrichment?
Let us look at the facts. In the Netherlands, more than 1.7 million labor migrants are working today. They contribute in sectors facing severe shortages. They provide care, build, produce, support, and sustain. Without their efforts, our economy would look very different.
Migration is as old as humanity itself. People have always moved, whether forced or by choice. And millions of stories show how people find new opportunities in a new country—while at the same time giving something valuable back to the society that receives them.
But what we choose as a society is decisive.
Do we choose
– Fear?
– Exclusion?
– Dividing people into “us” and “them”?
Or do we choose
– Humanity?
– Recognition?
– Cooperation?
At the Leiden Migrant Support Desk, we have made our choice.
– We choose human dignity.
– We choose justice.
– We choose participation and democracy.
In 2025, we proudly launched our new project: “Vibrant Local Democracy – Your Voice Matters.” Because democracy is not just a system. It is a peaceful way of addressing differences, of sharing power, and of giving people real influence over decisions that affect their lives.
Through our multilingual consultation hours, reporting points, and empowerment initiatives, we do not only support people with their everyday challenges. We also work on awareness, self-confidence, and equal opportunities. We do not merely address the consequences of inequality—we tackle its root causes.
We do not do this alone. We do this together. Together with volunteers, together with partners, together with the community—and together with everyone who believes that respect, justice, and solidarity form the foundation of a healthy society.
I would also like to emphasize that the Leiden Migrant Support Desk is a recognized Public Benefit Organization (ANBI). This means that donations not only support our projects, but may also be tax-deductible for donors under Dutch income tax regulations. Every contribution—large or small, whether in money, time, expertise, or resources—helps us continue this work and reach more people.
And therefore, today, I look to the future with confidence.
– We will continue to build.
– We will continue to listen.
– We will continue to give people the space to make their voices heard.
Because only a society that makes room for those who are new can truly become stronger, more humane, and more sustainable.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Leiden Migrant Support Desk over the past six years. Your commitment, care, engagement, and professionalism make a difference—every single day.
Let us enter the new year with courage, connection, and determination.
– For one another.
– With one another.
– And without leaving anyone behind.
Thank you very much.