Belgium has its own library dedicated to Turkish studies

With kind contributions from the Yunus Emre Institute and Ziraat Bank of Turkey, the Turkey Library, which houses 1,881 books, has opened at Belgium's Ghent University. The inauguration of the library was overseen by Turkey's ambassador in Brussels Mehmet Hakan Olcay, Counsel General of Anvers Metin Ergin, Yunus Emre Institute President Professor Hayati Develi, Ghent University's Faculty of Art and Philosophy Dean Professor Marc Boone and students.

In his opening speech, Develi said diplomatic relations between Turkey and Belgium go back 177 years, and continued: "To improve these relations, the Yunus Emre Institute has been initiating various projects in Belgium since 2011. I am glad to say that the Yunus Emre Institute is acting as a bridge between Turkey and Belgium." So far, the Yunus Emre Institute has been established a total of 65 libraries in various countries in order to contribute to the improvement of Turkish language and promote Turkish culture. The library in Ghent was established to support the development of the Turkey Research Center, which opened in Belgium in 2011. The Turkey Library at Ghent University has a variety of books even though it is a small establishment. According to Develi, the Turkey Library is a "kernel" library that represents all colors of Turkey, featuring books on Turkish language and literature, music, architecture and cuisine. "I believe that the library will be an important center for Turkish studies students and researchers in Belgium. We will continue to support the library, but the university will bring it to the next level. This place will be a reference building for people who want to learn Turkish as well as students, journalists and intellectuals," Develi said.

Also speaking at the inauguration, Boone thanked the Yunus Emre Institute and Ziraat Bank for their contributions and announced that the Turkey Library will not only offer its services to students but to all people of Ghent as a result of the agreement signed with the Municipality of Ghent. "The Turkey Research Center helped us to show other people that we care about the language, culture, history and art of citizens of Belgium who have Turkish origins," Boone said.

Ergin said the inauguration of the first Turkish library in Belgium is a turning point for the relationship between Turkey and Belgium. "I believe that the books featured in the library will bring people coming from different origins together under the same roof," Ergin said. Of the 1,881 books at the Turkey Library, 1,050 were donated by the Yunus Emre Institute. Apart from books promoting Turkey in Turkish, the library also has books in English on subjects related to Turkey and Turkish.