Arabs in the Netherlands (; ), also Arab Dutch () or Dutch Arabs (), are citizens or residents of the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

whose ancestry traces back to the

Arab world The Arab world ( '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, comprises a large group of countries, mainly located in West Asia and North Africa. While the majority of people in ...

History

Activism

On 8 September 2001, two Arab immigrants to the Netherlands, Egyptian-born film maker Ibrahim Farouk and Moroccan-born writer Mustafa Aboustib, launched a political party to protest what they perceived as poor representation of Arab Dutch people in mainstream political parties, except as "pretty Arab faces". The

Arab European League The Arab European League ( Dutch: ''Arabisch-Europese Liga'', AEL) was a Pan-Arabist political organisation active in Belgium and the Netherlands.

, a controversial pan-Arabist movement founded in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

by Lebanese-born Dyab Abou Jahjah, was active in the Netherlands between March 2003 and December 2010. It was represented by Nabil Marmouch and Abdoulmouthalib Bouzerda, both Moroccan Dutch born in

The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...

and

Arnhem Arnhem ( ; ; Central Dutch dialects, Ernems: ''Èrnem'') is a Cities of the Netherlands, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the German border. It is the capita ...

, respectively. In November 2007, Iraqi-born journalist Mohammad Mousa led a group of Dutch Arabs in protest against the private-media conglomerate

Al Jazeera Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN; , ) is a private-media conglomerate headquartered in Wadi Al Sail, Doha, funded in part by the government of Qatar. The network's flagship channels include Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English, which pro ...

's effective monopoly on Arabic-language broadcasting in the country.

Notable individuals

Arts and literature

* Rodaan Al Galidi (born 1971), writer * Ramsey Nasr (born 1974), writer *

Laïla Abid Laïla Abid (born March 21, 1977, in Meknes, Morocco) is a Moroccan-Dutch journalist, and former television news presenter and news anchor. Since 2017, Abid has been working in PR and communication. She studied journalism and between 2001 and 20 ...

(born 1977), journalist

Cinema and television

Hany Abu-Assad Hany Abu-Assad (; born 11 October 1961) is an Israeli and Dutch film director and screenwriter of Palestinian origin. He has received two Academy Award nominations: in 2006 for his film '' Paradise Now'', and again in 2013 for his film '' Omar ...

(born 1961), film director * Youssef Idilbi (1976–2008), actor * Mohamed Al-Daradji (born 1978), film director *

Marwan Kenzari Marwan Kenzari (; born 16 January 1983) is a Dutch-Tunisian actor. Starting his career in 2008, he first came to prominence for his role in the 2013 film ''Wolf'', which earned him a Golden Calf award for Best Actor. Since 2016, he has been port ...

(born 1983), actor * Maryam Hassouni (born 1985), actress *

Imaan Hammam Imaan Hammam (born 5 October 1996) is a Dutch fashion model. As of 2024, she has appeared on the cover of ''Vogue'' 22 times, four times on the American edition. She currently ranks on models.com's "Industry Icons" and was ranked on its "Top Sex ...

(born 1996), fashion model

Music

Ramses Shaffy Ramses Shaffy (29 August 1933 – 1 December 2009) was a Dutch-French singer and actor who became popular during the 1960s. His most famous songs include "Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder", "We zullen doorgaan", "Pastorale", "Samm ...

(1933–2009), singer *

Ali B Ali Bouali, known professionally as Ali B (born 16 October 1981), is a Moroccan Dutch rapper and entertainer. He is one of the most prominent rappers in the Netherlands and has collaborated with musicians such as Akon and Marco Borsato. He is se ...

(born 1981), rapper * Rania Zeriri (born 1986), singer * R3hab (born 1986), DJ and electronic musician *

Yes-R Yesser Roshdy (, ; born 2 November 1986), better known by his stage name Yes-R, is a Dutch rapper, singer and television presenter. He was born in Amsterdam, to an Egyptian father, and a Moroccan mother. Before going solo, he was part of the Dut ...

(born 1986), rapper

Politics

Khadija Arib Khadija Arib (; ; born 10 October 1960) is a Moroccans in the Netherlands, Moroccan-born Dutch politician of the Labour Party (Netherlands), Labour Party, who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives (Netherlands), Speaker of the House ...

(born 1960), politician * Arjan El Fassed (born 1973), politician

Sports

* Tahseen Jabbary (born 1964), football coach * Karim Bridji (born 1981), football player *

Saïd Boutahar Saïd Boutahar (born 12 August 1982) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made one appearance each for the Netherlands U18 national team. Club career Born in Rotterdam, Boutahar played alongside the likes of ...

(born 1982), football player * Amir Zeyada (born 1984), kickboxer *

Mounir El Hamdaoui Mounir El Hamdaoui (; born 14 July 1984) is a former professional association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. Born in the Netherlands, he represented Morocco national football team, Morocco internati ...

(born 1984), football player *

Mourad Bouzidi Mourad "The Silent Power" Bouzidi () (born November 23, 1984) is a Dutch– Tunisian heavyweight kickboxer, fighting out of Dojo Kamakura/Team Aerts in The Hague, Netherlands. He is the current Dutch Heavyweight W.F.C.A. kickboxing champion ...

(born 1984), kickboxer *

Badr Hari Badr Hari (Arabic: بدر هاري; born 8 December 1984) is a Moroccan-Dutch professional kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter. Born in Amsterdam, Hari made his professional kickboxing debut in 2000, and quickly rose to fame with his aggressive and ...

(born 1984), kickboxer *

Ibrahim Afellay Ibrahim Afellay (; born 2 April 1986) is a Dutch former professional Association football, footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or winger (association football), winger. He currently works for Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stic ...

(born 1986), football player * Fouad Idabdelhay (born 1988), football player * Ismaïl Aissati (born 1988), football player * Mimoun Eloisghiri (born 1989), football player * Anouar Kali (born 1991), football player * Osama Rashid (born 1992), football player *

Hilal Ben Moussa Hilal Ben Moussa (born 22 May 1992) is a Dutch professional association football, footballer who plays as a Midfielder (association football), midfielder for VV Scherpenzeel, Scherpenzeel. He also holds Moroccan citizenship. Club career Ben Mou ...

(born 1992), football player * Mo Hamdaoui (born 1993), football player * Anass Achahbar (born 1994), football player * Karim Rekik (born 1994), football player *

Anwar El Ghazi Anwar El Ghazi (; born 3 May 1995) is a Dutch professional association football, footballer who plays as a Winger (association football), winger or a Inside forward (association football), forward for club Cardiff City F.C., Cardiff City. Club ...

(born 1995), football player * Redouan El Yaakoubi (born 1996), football player * Zakaria Aboukhlal (born 2000), football player * Abdallah Aberkane (born 2000), football player * Anouar El Azzouzi (born 2001), football player * Yassine Azzagari (born 2001), football player * Marouan Azarkan (born 2001), football player * Naoufal Bannis (born 2002), football player * Younes Taha (born 2002), football player * Mohamed Nassoh (born 2003), football player * Anis Yadir (born 2004), football player

References

External links

T-shirt project in the Netherlands to create understanding between the Arab Dutch and non-Arab Dutch
{{Arab diaspora Arab diaspora in Europe Ethnic groups in the Netherlands Middle Eastern diaspora in the Netherlands Muslim communities in Europe