The stories behind the 170+ nationalities of Rotterdam
Did you know that Rotterdam is home to more than 170 different nationalities? This makes our city one of the most diverse in Europe. It is time to celebrate that fact! With Faces of Rotterdam, photographer and founder Robert Tjalondo captures one resident from every nationality. But it is about more than just a portrait. Most importantly, we document their unique stories. After all, why does someone from anywhere in the world specifically choose Rotterdam?
In these stories, you will discover what drives people and what they find special about our city. By sharing these stories, we see that everyone has their own reason to be here. This fosters understanding and connection.
Join us on this journey of discovery! Explore the portraits, dive into the stories, and be inspired by the people who call Rotterdam their home.
Celebrating diversity
We show that migration is an important part of Rotterdam’s history and identity. This is not only important for the past, but also for the present and the future. These stories remind us that we are all connected and that diversity is a strength.
An archive of stories
The portraits and stories of these residents form a unique collection. We are capturing the people of the city for future generations. This makes Faces of Rotterdam a digital time capsule. In 100 years, people will still be able to see who today’s Rotterdammers were, why they chose this city, and how they made themselves at home here.
Making connections
Rotterdam is more than buildings and landmarks. The city is shaped by the people who live here. By sharing personal stories about migration, finding a home, and life in Rotterdam, we create recognition and understanding. This is how we connect with each other and with the city. Together, these stories form the true identity of Rotterdam: a city of people.
nationalities in Rotterdam
countries in the world
Mexico, Liz
“I love getting to know all the cultures of Rotterdam and all the festivities that go with them. I would like to be at all the parties!”
Guyana, Tyron
“Everyone here does their own thing independently and takes care of themselves. In our culture, people ask for help very easily, for example for money. In the Netherlands that happens less.”
Sri Lanka, Tony
“Rotterdam is diverse; that suits me. If I eat with 5 people, they often come from different countries.”
Oman, Lukman
“Oman has only 10 to 20 nationalities. You don’t see the diversity of Rotterdam anywhere else.”
You can read, see and hear the stories of Faces of Rotterdam everywhere
Read
the stories on our website
Listen
to the podcast
Visit
the traveling exhibition
Nieuws
Campaign: Ik ben een Rotterdammer
Campaign ‘Ik ben een Rotterdammer’ - Faces of Rotterdam through the city ROTTERDAM – Have you spotted them yet? In November and January, the streets of Rotterdam have been filled with portraits of our fellow citizens. With the new campaign ‘Ik ben een Rotterdammer’ (I...
Festive Opening of ‘Faces of Rotterdam’ on Diversity Day at Theater Zuidplein
Festive Opening of ‘Faces of Rotterdam’ on Diversity Day at Theater Zuidplein On October 7, Diversity Day, Theater Zuidplein became the city's beating heart. Amidst great interest from approximately 200 visitors, the ‘Faces of Rotterdam’ exhibition was officially...
Faces of Rotterdam on NPO Radio 1
Het programma ‘De nacht is zwart’ van omroep Zwart op radio 1 besteedde aandacht aan Faces of Rotterdam. Presentatoren Lara Lauwigi en Oifik Youssefi spraken Willemijn de Koning over het project. Zij is zakelijk leider van stichting Kloofdichters, die Faces of...
Faces of Rotterdam offers a first glimpse into 170+ nationalities at the international film festival (IFFR)
Met ‘a glimpse into our 170+ nationalities’ geeft het Internationaal Film Festival in Rotterdam (IFFR) alvast een kijkje in de eerste portretten van Faces of Rotterdam. Dit wordt een multimediaal archief van en een audiovisueel eerbetoon aan alle nationaliteiten die...
Faces of Rotterdam travels through Rotterdam
Faces of Rotterdam will travel, with all the portraits and interviews of Rotterdammers of all the nationalities of the city, through the city. From Diversity Day, October 7th, the exhibition and movie will be seen for three weeks at Zuidplein theater in Rotterdam. A...
Meet the team behind Faces of Rotterdam
Faces of Rotterdam is an initiative by photographer Robert Tjalondo and is realised by the foundation stichting Kloofdichters.
Robert noticed that Rotterdam is home to residents from more than 170 different countries. For him, these were not abstract statistics, but people with stories. Driven by this curiosity, he captures the faces and stories of the city through portraits, videos, and interviews. Claudia Vásquez Quiroz helps scouting the people who we portray and Quintis Ristie is our ambassador. Interview, communication and projectmanagement is done by Willemijn de Koning.
Together, we make Rotterdam’s global diversity personal and recognisable — showing who Rotterdam truly is.