Amsterdam, Netherlands: How To Get There, Where To Stay, What To See, Where To Shop, Where To Eat...

Amsterdam

.nl

The no-nonsense travel guide to Amsterdam, Holland

Navigation:

Dutch Amsterdamon

You are here: Home | About Amsterdam | Gay Pride Canal Parade

Gay Pride Canal Parade

Amsterdam Tourist Information • August 3, 2007

On Saturday, Aug. 4, Amsterdam’s annual Gay Pride Canal Parade will take place, under the title, “We Are Amsterdam Pride.”

It is the largest gay event in the Netherlands.

The annual boat parade, which sees the canals lined by an expected 350.000 onlookers, demonstrates and celebrates the diversity of Holland’s gay and lesbian community.

Amsterdam’s Gay Pride Canal Parade, 2006.

The parade — which features dancers, music and, er, ‘more’ on about 80 decorated boats — is also seen as a way in which the city of Amsterdam can officially show how tolerant and diverse it is. That is why tomorrow’s parade will include two boats with a total of 65 of Amsterdam’s rulers.

Previous parades have seen boats supporting specific ’causes’ — such as the plight of homosexual Muslims.

This year’s parade will include a boat with gay minors (ages 11 through 17), some of whom will be accompanied by their parents.

The Gay Pride Parade is billed as a ‘feast of visibility.’ It is, according to Amsterdam’s official website, “an important feast for all of the Netherlands, where tolerance towards homosexual men, lesbian women, bisexuals and transgenders appears to be under some pressure.”

While Holland, and Amsterdam in particular, is known for its tolerance, changes in society are cause for concern. These changes include anything from a recently elected government led by conservative Christians — to the influx of Muslims, whose intolerance toward all things not condoned by Islam causes many Dutch people to be highly concerned.

Also in recent months, small gangs of youth — mostly of Moroccan descent — have attacked several homosexual men.

Parade Details

The Gay Pride Canal Parade will take place on Saturday, August 4, between 14:00 and 17:00 (2 PM and 5 PM).

The parade route:

14.00 Start from Ruijterkade / Westerdok
14.15 Haarlemmerhouttuinen / Korte Prinsengracht
14.40 Rozengracht / Prinsengracht
15.00 Leidsestraat / Prinsengracht
15.30 Vijzelstraat / Prinsengracht
15.40 Utrechtsestraat / Prinsengracht
16.00 Amstel / Blauwbrug
16.30 Mr. Visserplein
17.00 Arrival Oosterdok

The Gay Pride Parade is organized by Pro Gay, under the title, “We are Amsterdam Gay Pride.” Unfortunately, those labels, and the wording of the group’s domain name — WeAreProud.nl — is the only English you’ll find at their official website.