Armenians in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
Armenian-Dutch are citizens of the Netherlands
of Armenian
ancestry. The exact number of Armenians in the country is unknown, since the Dutch Immigration Office only offers data on country of origin. It is unofficially estimated that about 6,000 to 9,000 Armenians live in the Netherlands.
Apart from the contemporary Armenian community spread out over the Netherlands
, there was an independent Armenian
community concentrated in Amsterdam during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Many Armenian merchants in Amsterdam
went to Southeast Asia
in the 19th century to trade, and to set up factories and plantations, establishing a community of Armenians in Java.
The Napoleonic wars put an end to the Armenian life in the Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam was almost depopulated after its occupation by the French. A Dutch writer has said in De Amsterdammer, a magazine of the date of August 14, 1887 that "The story of the Armenian community is a golden page in the history of the city of Amsterdam." In 1713 the city of Amsterdam permitted the Armenians to erect a church of their own. After serving its purpose for about a century and a half, this edifice was closed because of the dwindling of its congregation. In 1874, by order of the Catholicos
of Echmiadzin
, the building was sold for 10,000 florins, which was transmitted to him . It is probable that the Armenian community assimilated into the wider Dutch nation during the 19th century.
Armenians arrived from Indonesia
(the former Dutch Indies in the 1950s), Turkey
(1970s), Lebanon
(1970s), Iran
(1980s), Iraq
(early 1990s), Russia
and Armenia
(1990s).
The largest group of Armenians arrived from Turkey (Diyarbakir
and Şırnak
) in the 1970s as guest workers in chain migration, finding employment in textile plants in Almelo
and Hengelo
. Currently most Armenians live in the major urban centres in the western part of the Netherlands: Amsterdam
, Dordrecht
, The Hague
, Leiden and Rotterdam
. Armenian church services are held in Amsterdam and Almelo
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
ancestry. The exact number of Armenians in the country is unknown, since the Dutch Immigration Office only offers data on country of origin. It is unofficially estimated that about 6,000 to 9,000 Armenians live in the Netherlands.
Apart from the contemporary Armenian community spread out over the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, there was an independent Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
community concentrated in Amsterdam during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Many Armenian merchants in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
went to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
in the 19th century to trade, and to set up factories and plantations, establishing a community of Armenians in Java.
The Napoleonic wars put an end to the Armenian life in the Netherlands. The city of Amsterdam was almost depopulated after its occupation by the French. A Dutch writer has said in De Amsterdammer, a magazine of the date of August 14, 1887 that "The story of the Armenian community is a golden page in the history of the city of Amsterdam." In 1713 the city of Amsterdam permitted the Armenians to erect a church of their own. After serving its purpose for about a century and a half, this edifice was closed because of the dwindling of its congregation. In 1874, by order of the Catholicos
Catholicos of Armenia
The Catholicos of All Armenians is the chief bishop of Armenia's national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches that do not accept the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon. The first Catholicos of All Armenians was Saint Gregory the Illuminator...
of Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
, the building was sold for 10,000 florins, which was transmitted to him . It is probable that the Armenian community assimilated into the wider Dutch nation during the 19th century.
Armenians arrived from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
(the former Dutch Indies in the 1950s), Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(1970s), Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
(1970s), Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(1980s), Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
(early 1990s), Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
(1990s).
The largest group of Armenians arrived from Turkey (Diyarbakir
Diyarbakir
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
and Şırnak
Sirnak
Şırnak is a town in southeastern Turkey. It is the capital of Şırnak Province, a new province that split from the Hakkari province...
) in the 1970s as guest workers in chain migration, finding employment in textile plants in Almelo
Almelo
Almelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands. The main population centres in the town are Aadorp, Almelo, Mariaparochie and Bornerbroek....
and Hengelo
Hengelo
Hengelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel. The city lies along the motorways A1/E30 and A35 and it has a station for the International Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin service.-Traffic and transport:...
. Currently most Armenians live in the major urban centres in the western part of the Netherlands: Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Dordrecht
Dordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
, The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Leiden and Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Armenian church services are held in Amsterdam and Almelo
Almelo
Almelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands. The main population centres in the town are Aadorp, Almelo, Mariaparochie and Bornerbroek....
.
Notable people
- Gago Aroetjunjan – kickboxer and Muay ThaiMuay ThaiMuay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
fighter - Biurakn HakhverdianBiurakn HakhverdianBiurakn Hakhverdian is a Dutch water polo player who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions. She is of Iranian Armenian descent....
– water polo player, captain of the Dutch national junior water polo team - Ara Halici – plays the emcee in the Dutch version of CabaretCabaretCabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
- Biaina Geragousian – chess player, winner of the national Dutch junior title.
- Gegard MousasiGegard MousasiGegard Mousasi, born Geghard Movsesian is an Armenian-Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is fighting out of Team Jurojin in Leiden, Netherlands and is a member of Russian Red Devil Sport Club and Netherlands' Golden Glory...
, mixed martial artist - Aras Ozbiliz, football player, currently playing for AFC Ajax