ABOUT AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is a city of 750,000 people, and an iconic centre of Dutch national culture, with its canals, its distinctive architecture, and its museums full of works of the great Dutch artists such as Vermeer, Rembrandt and van Gogh.
For all its distinctiveness, however, Amsterdam is also a remarkably diverse, cosmopolitan city. A city on the water, it has been a global city from the very beginning. Jews and Huguenots came to Amsterdam as early as half a millennium ago. This was a city of traders which introduced new products into early modern Europe - coffee, for instance. It was the base for one of the early colonial empires, bringing back the influences of Indonesia or Suriname. More recently, it has become the home of people from Turkey, Morocco and (following decolonisation in the 1970s), Suriname.
Ethnic minorities now make up 47% of the population of Amsterdam (which means that, very soon, the word ‘minority’ may have to be applied to its Dutch inhabitants, too) - 174 nationalities in all. Changing demography is accelerating these trends, with a decreasing birth rate amongst the Dutch and a ‘greying’ of the population. 60% of children in primary schools are of non-Dutch background.
Ethnicity is just one of diversity’s dimensions. Gender equality is a fundamental and strongly defended principle. And the gay and lesbian population is estimated to be approximately 20% in the centre of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam prides itself on its tolerance. In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriages. In the area of cultural and religious diversity, this tolerance has been somewhat tested in recent years; immigration and multiculturalism are currently much debated subjects. At the same time, you’ll find initiatives such as Muslim versus gay football matches and other events aimed at bringing different communities into contact and dialogue with each other. It is this willingness to debate, discuss and develop that makes Amsterdam such a vibrant and vital place; setting the trend in a world where negotiating diversity has become a matter of practical necessity as well as principled good governance.
About the Diversity Platform in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan, diverse city. You can spot diversity throughout the many cultures, lifestyles and communities in the city. We see diversity as a source of strength and innovation. Making use of this strength requires a well-functioning local democracy that all the inhabitants can identify with and participate in.
In a monoculture, the services, businesses and town districts of the city cannot adapt to the wishes and expectations of the diverse inhabitants. Diversity in an organisation stimulates the gathering of knowledge, creativity and flexibility. Rather than being seen as something that hinders progress, diversity management highlights and develops the different strengths and talents employees can bring to their work.
All sections of the city council of Amsterdam should be interested in a diverse workforce. Diversity management is about being able to optimally utilize the different qualities of the employees and being able to deal with a diverse workforce.
The Diversity Platform expresses the wish of the College of Mayor and Aldermen of Amsterdam to work towards a way of capitalising on the strength of diversity in a flexible and integrated manner. Established in 2004, we act as an advisory board concerning all aspects of diversity in the human resource policies of the city council. This is in response to the wish of the College to have a workforce that reflects the population of the city. The Diversity Platform gives advice and makes proposals, monitors the results of diversity management, briefs and advises colleagues and organises activities.