A small Turkish village, Turkeye, in the Zeeland region of Netherlands draws attention with its population of 19 people. Despite that everyone in the village is Dutch, many houses are decorated with doors saying, “Happy is the one who says I am a Turk”, plates reading “Welcome” and paintings of Ottoman sultans. There is also a fountain, with figures of Ottoman period, the sun and crescent on, that was built in 1789 to thank the Ottomans in a town called Sluis near the village.

Monique Sturm, who has been a volunteer at the Turkish embassy in the village for 30 years, has turned her house into a Turkish museum. She said that she divided the house into two parts and put what she brought from Turkey to one side. Sturm stated that 3,419 Turks have come to the village so far and added that every visitor gets emotional when leaving.

Rumor has it that the village dates back to the years 1590-1604.

Ali Parıltı