Albanians in Belgium

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The Albanians in Belgium ( Albanian  Shqiptarët në Belgjikë , French Albanais en Belgique , Dutch Albanezen in België ) represent an ethnic minority of the country with an estimated population of around 50,000 to 60,000 people and are part of the Albanian diaspora . In addition to citizens of Albania (2941 people as of 2008), there are also numerous Albanians from Kosovo , Macedonia , Serbia , Greece and Montenegro. It is therefore generally difficult to give an exact number of people of Albanian origin in a Western European country. Around 40,000 Albanians live in the Brussels region alone , most of them in Schaerbeek .

The first Albanians in Belgium were politically persecuted by socialist Albania , whom Belgium accepted in 1956 after an agreement. Their descendants, now in the third generation, are now integrated into Belgian society.

In the 1960s, with immigrants from Turkey , Albanians who had previously migrated to Turkey from Yugoslavia also came to Belgium. They were followed by guest workers from Yugoslavia in the 1970s and increasingly in the 1980s.

In the 1990s there was a major phase of Albanian immigration to Belgium. On the one hand, many left this country with the fall of communism in Albania and the associated opening of the border; on the other hand, many Kosovar Albanians left their homeland at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars or during the Kosovo war .

Organizations and associations

In recent years several Albanian organizations and associations have emerged in Belgium, including:

  • AlbaBel (founded by Amet Gjanaj): Albanian language courses and music evenings
  • Faik Konitza (founded in 2008 by Genti Metaj): Social work and social engagement
  • Dora Dorës (founded in 2003 by Hamide Canolli): Community of Albanian women based in Huy
  • FC Kosova Schaerbeek (founded 1991): Football club in Schaerbeek

Well-known Albanians in Belgium

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Kolë Gjeloshaj Hysaj: Albanais de Belgique: Source structuration? In: cbai.be. Center Bruxellois d'Action Interculturelle, accessed on January 12, 2018 (French).
  2. ^ A b Rikard Jozwiak: FC Kosova Schaerbeek: A Small Brussels Soccer Club With Big Dreams. In: rferl.org. Radio Free Europe , October 15, 2011, accessed January 26, 2018 .
  3. ^ A b Kate Holman: Pride and Prejudice: Belgium's Albanian community. In: konitza.eu. Retrieved January 12, 2018 .
  4. ↑ Une intégration souple, discrète, "à l'albanaise". In: lavenir.net. November 28, 2012, accessed January 15, 2018 (French).