Theatre · Conversation
Makers and performers work towards a collective performance in which theatre, music, dance, singing, and spoken word come together.

With Bright O’Richards, Dragan Bakema + more

Een avond voor iedereen in en om het onderwijs
Aan de hand van fragmenten uit de documentaire Strijders voor Gelijke Rechten — een historisch voorbeeld van hoe asielzoekers en arbeidsmigranten de Nederlandse rechtsstaat versterkten — gaan we samen het gesprek aan. Wat is de meerwaarde van het omarmen van diversiteit voor onze samenleving? En wat betekent dat voor wat en hoe jij over vluchtelingen lesgeeft?

Stichting Stadslab, Nilufer Oder, Shadi Nikshomar + meer

How do we create spaces where we can connect, reflect, and act together?

As part of Refugee Welcome Week 2026, this gathering brings together queer (LGBTQIA+) newcomers, community members, allies, and organisations for an afternoon of dialogue, reflection, and collective exchange. Through presentations, dialogue, and community exchange, we come together to strengthen networks, share knowledge, and imagine futures rooted in solidarity, safety, and belonging.

Timeline
13:00 – Welcome & Arrival: A moment to settle in, meet others, and enter the space together.

15:30 – 17:00 Community Dialogue & Exchange: Conversations exploring the realities, needs, and aspirations of queer newcomers in the Netherlands.

17:30 – 18:15 Stories, Knowledge & Collective Reflection: Presentations and shared experiences creating space for learning, visibility, and mutual support.Keynote by Prof. Dr Halleh Ghorashi from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam &  Refugee Academy.

18:30 – 19:30 Networking & Community Building: An opportunity to connect with organisations, activists, and community members working toward more inclusive futures.

19:30 | Community Dinner: Shared dinner and informal networking with participants, organisers, and speakers.

Timeline:
‍13:00 – 15:30 Welcome & Arrival: A moment to settle in, meet others, and enter the space together.

15:30 – 17:00 Community Dialogue & Exchange: Conversations exploring the realities, needs, and aspirations of queer newcomers in the Netherlands.

17:30 – 18:15  Stories, Knowledge & Collective Reflection: Presentations and shared experiences creating space for learning, visibility, and mutual support.Keynote by Prof. Dr Halleh Ghorashi from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/ Refugee Academy.

18:30 – 19:30 Networking & Community Building: An opportunity to connect with organisations, activists, and community members working toward more inclusive futures.

19:30 - 21:30 | Community Dinner: Shared dinner and informal networking with participants, organisers, and speakers.

This gathering asks how we move beyond isolation and toward community. How can connection become a form of care, solidarity, and collective action?

Hosted by Queer Work, Trans United Europe, ARQ, and Refugee Academy (Vrije Universiteit).

An afternoon and evening of connection, solidarity, and collective action.
· 15:00 Info Market
· 17:30 Letter Writing
· 18:30 Dinner & Performances
· 20:00 Talks & Workshop

With Justice & Peace, UAF, Culture Tank Factory, Philomela + AZC MUTUAL AID + more

13:00-14:30
DREAMERS (2025) directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor
16:00 – 17:30 
A WORLD NOT OURS (2014) directed by MAHDI FLEIFEL
17:30-18:30
Community Dinner 
18:30-19:00
Ukrainian Choir 
19:30
Networking drinks 
19:45 Closing

Film selection distributed by
Refugee Week UK

Film & Gesprek
De Klantreis Een bijzondere voorvertoning van De klantreis, gevolgd door een gesprek met de filmmaker en Amsterdammers met een vluchtachtergrond. Samen verkennen we wat belonging betekent, welke rol inburgering daarin speelt, en hoe mensen vanuit hun eigen ervaring bouwen aan een warmere start voor anderen in de stad.

Adres: VluchtelingenWerk, Bruggebouw, Bos en Lommerplein 303, 1055 RW Amsterdam. Ingang via hoofdingang bij Bos en Lommerplein.

With Justice & Peace, Oxfam, New Women Connectors, ISS + more

Critical dialogue and collective action on narrative, identity, and belonging.
· 17:0 Doors Open
· 17:30 Panel
· 19:30 Interactive Sessions
· 20:30 Shared Meal & Open Space

With SAWA Collective, Radio Salto, Stratenmakers Audiocollectief + more

Critical dialogue and collective action on narrative, identity, and belonging.
· 17:0 Doors Open
· 17:30 Panel
· 19:30 Interactive Sessions
· 20:30 Shared Meal & Open Space

Film & Gesprek
De Klantreis Een bijzondere voorvertoning van De klantreis, gevolgd door een gesprek met de filmmaker en Amsterdammers met een vluchtachtergrond. Samen verkennen we wat belonging betekent, welke rol inburgering daarin speelt, en hoe mensen vanuit hun eigen ervaring bouwen aan een warmere start voor anderen in de stad.

Adres: VluchtelingenWerk, Bruggebouw, Bos en Lommerplein 303, 1055 RW Amsterdam. Ingang via hoofdingang bij Bos en Lommerplein.

Building resilience through play, reflection, and community
· 11:00 Open Doors
· 12:00 Workshops
· 16:00-20:00 Reflection & Dialogue

With WRKfor + more

From meaning to action — who gets to belong, and what will we do to make it real?
· 19:00 Drinks & Bites
· 20:00 Panel - Exploring Who Gets to Belong
How belonging is is shaped through community, identity, care, shared values, and lived experiences; touching on intersectionality, displacement, representation, and club culture.
· 21:15 Workshop - Rituals of Becoming
A participatrory workshop where participants transform personal feelings into a shared ritual of empowerment and release. Through writing and symbolic stones, the workshop explores feelings of exclusion, grief, hope, protection, and the possibility of becoming.
· 22:30 Performance - Reviving Elkhawal
A historical drag-like performance tradition from Egypt. This interactive piece combines storytelling, belly dance, and audience participation to reclaim queer cultureal histories. Lolita Om Badawi connects stories of past khawal performers with present-day queer experiences across the SWANA region and diaspora.

With Berat Bebek, Youssef, Sona, Stavros Kyrillos + more

12:00 – 18:00 | Book Fair by Maktabet Al Nour
A multilingual book fair featuring a diverse collection of books in different languages, creating space for storytelling, literature, and cultural exchange across communities.

18:00 – 20:30 | Cultural Evening
An evening of live music, cultural performances, and community gathering celebrating the richness of different cultures, stories, and artistic expressions.
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The table is a place of welcome, voice, and belonging. When people are forced to leave home, they often lose not only a place, but also a familiar role: being the one who welcomes, decides, contributes, and helps shape the space around them.

The Table is a 1.5-hour facilitated group session by Zorg-GO for Refugee Welcome Week 2026. The session invites participants to reflect on what it means to rebuild belonging in a new place- not only by being welcomed, but by gradually becoming part of the shared space and their future.

Come together around one table to reflect, connect, and co-create a shared symbol of belonging. Bring one word. Share tea and connection. Help build a table where everyone belongs.

‍Important note: This is not therapy. It is a guided group reflection focused on connection, presence, and participation.

Programme outline & registration: Sessions will run throughout the day. Spaces are strictly limited to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

Location: The exact address will be sent to registered participants one week before the event.

​Currently open for registration: 11:00 – 12:30

Welcome to the AZC – A story about waiting, hope and resilience in a broken system

Welcome to the AZC is a co-creation project with and by young adults living in AZCs, from Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan and Yemen; and Palestinian director Alaa Shehada (known for the play The Horse of Jenin) and Syrian actor Yazan al Hakim. The cast consists of non-professional actors playing scenes that reflect their real lives.

This play was created through incredible will power, bundling of energy, hope and solidarity within the many barriers and constraints of a broken migration and asylum system

Curated by SAWA Collective

Onder regie van Dragan Bakema, in samenwerking met Bright Richards, brengt Back On Stage kunstenaars en performers met een vluchtelingenachtergrond samen die hun artistieke praktijk in Nederland opnieuw vormgeven.

Via theater, muziek, dans, zang en spoken word creëren de performers een gezamenlijke voorstelling die geworteld is in persoonlijke verhalen, talent, herinnering en verbeelding.Het programma biedt ruimte om te creëren, elkaar te ontmoeten en opnieuw verbinding te maken met een artistieke stem binnen een nieuwe context.

Samen onderzoeken de kunstenaars wat het betekent om terug te keren op het podium — met kracht, kwetsbaarheid en de moed om gezien te worden. Als afsluitend evenement van Refugee Welcome Week 2026 viert de avond kunst als een ruimte voor expressie, verbondenheid en radicale hoop.