Rik Moors, Amsterdam, 11.07.2025 – A storytelling and discussion evening organised by Road of Hope offered an opportunity for displaced Ukrainians to reflect on their integration journeys and engage directly with city officials.
Held in Amsterdam on 11 July, the event posed a central question: What does integration really mean when your life’s in a suitcase?
Through personal testimonies and a moderated discussion with representatives of the Amsterdam municipality, the evening highlighted both the determination of those rebuilding their lives in the Netherlands and the long-term challenges they continue to face.
Personal testimonies
The event opened with three distinct stories. The first was from an anonymous elderly couple who fled Luhansk in 2014. Despite living legally in the Netherlands for a decade, they remain without permanent residency. “Living in uncertainty is hard,” they wrote, “but we appreciate the safety we’ve found.”
Next came the testimony of Nadiya Shevchenko, who arrived in 2022 with her family from western Ukraine. A former international professional, she has since rebuilt her life in Amsterdam and now coordinates a Ukrainian support department for the Welcome App, which helps newcomers to the country meet others, find information in their own language, and participate in local activities.
“I made a clear decision: I’m here, so I live here,” she shared. Without thinking ‘what if we leave.’ Without postponing life for later. I immediately started building my life as if it would continue here forever.”
Artur, a young man from Kharkiv and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, delivered his story in person. After fleeing Ukraine on foot via the Carpathian Mountains and surviving a mistaken detention upon arrival in Amsterdam, he now lives in an LGBT-friendly shelter and is working to rebuild his sense of self. “I want to say thank you to everyone who helps us not feel like outsiders,” he said. “Home is where you are seen and respected.”
Panel discussion
The panel discussion, moderated by Road of Hope director Patricia Silva, began with a question about the long-term outlook for Ukrainians with temporary protection: How does the Dutch government view “temporary displacement” over time?
The policy advisor for the Municipality of Amsterdam, Susanne van Kooy, acknowledged that national policy remains uncertain. “The national government is, in a sense, jumping between channels,” she said, explaining that while it supports continued refuge in the short term, the long-term emphasis remains on the eventual return to Ukraine after the war.
However, she added, “We as the city of Amsterdam think you’ll be here for quite some time. We’re looking into how to create more stability and a new situation that reflects that reality.”
This tension between temporary status and long-term needs was evident throughout the evening. Asked about access to higher education, officials confirmed that tuition for non-EU students remains prohibitively high, starting at €11,000. While universities have the discretion to apply reduced fees in some cases, the lack of consistent funding or national policy leaves many Ukrainian students unable to enrol. “We recognise this is a significant barrier,” said van Kooy, “and we’re in discussion with colleagues in education about what might be possible.”
Housing also emerged as a major concern. “I feel like the messenger from hell,” one official admitted. Due to their temporary status, Ukrainians are either ineligible for social housing or face insurmountable waiting lists. Renting on the private market is theoretically possible, but prohibitively expensive without a high income. In response, the city is exploring intermediate solutions such as more suitable shelter models to address the ongoing demand.
Audience members voiced their frustrations and spoke about their challenges, particularly around language barriers, social isolation, and underemployment. One participant asked how to make friends with Dutch people. Another shared how they were overqualified for entry-level jobs yet unable to access positions matching their experience.
City representatives acknowledged these challenges, urging attendees to enrol in language classes and participate in community spaces. New Dutch courses and cultural orientation programmes will begin in September. “It takes time,” said the project manager for the Municipality Hester van der Meer, “but we’re here to help.”
Despite the many challenges shared by the attendees, the evening reflected a strong sense of resilience and optimism, with the words of Nadiya resonating with many in attendance:
“If you start seeing the world not as a place of closed doors, but as a space of opportunities—they will open. Sometimes unexpectedly. But they will.”
