Celebrating in two spheres

After each victory for the Turkish team in the European Football Championship, even well-integrated Turks took to the streets in the Netherlands to celebrate. In the Dutch evening paper NRC Handelsblad, Cengiz Çaglar, a Dutch student, examines the roots of national pride: "There is a difference between the public sphere in which I live and my private sphere. The public sphere is Dutch, but my private sphere is Turkish. However I am not nationalistic and see myself rather as a cosmopolitan. ... Another explanation for all the rejoicing is that for a long time the Turkish team was unsuccessful. Things that are rare are more highly valued. ... And then there is perhaps the most important reason: the role of the Turkish media. Everyone knows that the Turks are an emotional people. Turkish television targets the national sentiment of Turks living in the Netherlands much more heavily than the Dutch media. ... In theory, nationalism is an artificial principle, but the EURO Cup has shown us that many do not experience it this way. The nationalism is real."

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