BelgianTurkish

BelgianTurkish is a term used to describe people of Turkish origin who live in Belgium, and more broadly the cross-cultural community formed by Turkish migrants and their descendants in the country. The term is not an official designation but appears in sociological and journalistic contexts to discuss the diaspora and its cultural, economic, and social aspects.

Most Turkish migrants to Belgium arrived during the 1960s and 1970s under labor migration programs and family reunification policies. They settled mainly in urban areas such as Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, and Liège. Over the following decades, second- and third-generation Belgian-Turkish residents matured, contributing to Belgian society in various sectors while maintaining cultural ties to Turkey, including language (Turkish), religious practice (Islam), and cuisine.

Cultural life includes Turkish-language media, shops, associations, and religious centers (mosques). The community has integrated into Belgian education systems and labor markets to varying degrees, facing challenges related to integration, discrimination, and social mobility, alongside efforts to preserve cultural heritage. Intermarriage and participation in public life have increased over time, influenced by national integration policies and local initiatives.

Belgian-Turkish relations also intersect with Belgium–Turkey relations at the governmental level through trade, diplomacy, and cooperation on migration and security issues. The term is sometimes used in analyses of migration, diaspora politics, and multiculturalism in Belgium and Europe.