On 26 June 2025, hundreds of professionals working on diversity, equity and inclusion gathered in Utrecht for the National Congress against Racism and Discrimination, an event hosted under the theme “A Society for All.”
The congress was opened by King Willem-Alexander, signalling not just national attention but symbolic urgency around the work of combating discrimination in all its forms. Policymakers, researchers, civil servants, activists and educators came together to discuss both persistent challenges and new frontiers including less frequently addressed issues such as pregnancy discrimination and anti-Asian racism.
Our DiGiN partner Emmy van Gennip, Programme Manager for the Inclusivity Panel at the Municipality of Rotterdam, attended the congress with several colleagues, all involved in advancing DEI within the city’s administration.
“It’s reassuring to see that in these difficult times, there is still a mass of people working toward an equitable society,” Emmy shared. “The congress gave space to issues we often overlook and reminded us that we’re not alone in this work.”
The event concluded with a message from Rabin Baldewsingh, the National Coordinator against Racism and Discrimination (NCDR) and host of the congress. He presented a manifesto addressed to political parties ahead of the upcoming national elections, proposing 10 concrete measures to strengthen anti-discrimination efforts across the country.
📄 You can download the manifesto (in Dutch) here: Manifest NCDR Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2025
As Rabin reminded attendees in his closing words:
“Take home the learnings you have, plant the seeds and don’t forget to water them.”
At DiGiN, we are committed to doing just that. Through inspiring practices, community-building and municipal leadership, we continue to water the seeds of equity helping cities become not just spaces of service delivery, but spaces of justice, dignity and belonging.
