Amsterdam through a (Trans)national Gaze: A Conversation with Life Writing Author Alejandra Ortiz

Abstract

Alejandra Ortiz, author of De waarheid zal me bevrijden, offers readers an opportunity to see Amsterdam from her (trans)national gaze. Through this piece, she shares how Amsterdam has influenced her identity as a woman, writer and activist, and her feelings of (non) belonging. At a young age, Ortiz travelled to the north looking for the safe environment that her hometown did not provide. In 2015, she resettled in the Netherlands as an asylum seeker. Unfortunately, she encountered a severe bureaucratic system that denied her that opportunity. Despite these difficulties, Ortiz has built a support system for herself and those around her facing similar situations. She continues to share her story with the hope of fostering a more understanding society.