Like many other countries, you can celebrate Pride in the Netherlands every year. In Amsterdam, Pride Week starts with the Pride March on Saturday, 27 July. A week later, Pride ends with the famous Canal Parade on Saturday, 3 August.
'Pride' is the name of the day or week when
Although 'Pride' once began as a protest, over the years it has become more of a celebration. Still, the fight for equal rights for LGBTIA+ individuals is not over. Many LGBTQIA+ individuals still face discrimination and violence, including in the Netherlands.
In fact, in many other countries it is still illegal to be homosexual, making it too dangerous for many LGBTQIA+ people there and they often try to flee. During 'Pride', therefore, attention is drawn to the inequality that still exists.
The organisation 'Queer Amsterdam' was founded in an attempt to get extra attention for the fight for equal rights. Since 2023, 'Queer Amsterdam' and 'Stichting Pride Amsterdam' have been organising 'Queer & Pride Amsterdam' together. From 3 July to 4 August, there is 'Queer Amsterdam'. And from 27 July to 4 August it is 'Pride'.
You can attend 2 weeks of parties, exhibitions, concerts, discussion nights, films and workshops. You can listen to other visitors' stories and share your own. You can also participate in sporting events, demonstrations and parades. And of course you can meet lots of (other) LGBTQIA+ individuals. Each day has an extensive program.
Saturday, 27 July marks the start of the 2nd week: Pride Amsterdam. You can join a big parade through the city, and then party, eat and play sports in the Vondelpark.
The Canal Parade closes Pride a week later. This large, colourful boat parade attracts more than 300,000 visitors every year. Many people from abroad also come to watch. Be on time, or there will be no place left. Everyone crowds together on the bridges or along the canals. Rows and rows of people. 80 boats sail past for you to admire. And the crowd dances, celebrates, sings and waves to each other. Not only on the boats but also on the shore.
The first Gay Pride was in 1970 in New York. It was a protest.
Homosexual men, lesbian women and transvestites revolted when police tried to evict them from their pubs for the umpteenth time. After years of bullying and violence, LGBTQIA+ people revolted. The riots and protests lasted 6 days. This was the beginning of the struggle for equal rights for LGBTQIA+ people.
You do not have to celebrate 'Pride' in Amsterdam. You can go to Pride in many cities in the Netherlands. For example in Utrecht, Nijmegen, Groningen, Zwolle, Alkmaar, Leiden, Tilburg and Maastricht. Not all on the same day. And in some cities 'Pride' has already been.
Amsterdam also hosts a Black Pride where people stand up against racism. This initiative began because many organisations want to be inclusive but do not clearly speak out against racism. The Pride movement owes much to the 1960s anti-racism movement and activists of colour who played an important role in LGBTQIA+ protests.