From year to year
For 28 years, we have celebrated freedom in Amsterdam, the freedom that you can be who you are and love who you want. Pride Amsterdam can no longer be ignored. The nine-day festival has become a world-famous event where the LGBTQ+ community sets the standard in the city. However, this has not always been the case. The Pride has had to 'navigate' a long and hard road. Through trial and error, the struggle for emancipation has been able to make unprecedented strides. Many highs, lows, moving moments and moments to cherish forever. Read below the story of 28 years of Pride Amsterdam.
Since its inception in 1996, our Pride has evolved into a nine-day festival and has become one of the best and biggest celebrations of its kind worldwide. The city turns into a rainbow of events with dance parties, film festivals, sporting events, debate and culture, a Pride Walk with connecting Rainbow Park and, on the closing weekend, the roof literally and figuratively goes off at multiple outdoor venues.
The ring of canals is heritage and what sails across it once a year, our Pride, is also heritage. It really is of the same order, I am also incredibly proud of it!
Femke Halsema
Mayor of Amsterdam
2025: LOVE
In a world where division is taking up more and more space, love offers a powerful answer. For Pride 2025, the central theme is LOVE, not only as a symbol of
romance, but also as a foundation for connection, understanding and solidarity. Love captivates, binds, supports and overcomes.
LOVE is multifaceted and represents, among other things, the attraction between individuals, the support people can give each other and the never-ending fight for equal rights waged together. The announcement of the LOVE theme also marks the start of preparations for the upcoming Pride Amsterdam 2025, including the 28th edition of the Canal Parade.
2024: TOGETHER
In 2024, Pride Amsterdam was all about connection with the theme TOGETHER. In a polarising society, the lhbtiqa+ community regularly ends up unintentionally facing each other, instead of side by side. Especially at a time when rainbow identities are under more pressure internationally and people are losing freedoms, it is important that everyone knows how to find each other again. Stronger together, despite our differences. And stronger together, thanks to our differences. We need each other; regardless of whether someone is lhbtiqa+ or ally/ ally. TOGETHER in Pride. For ourselves and for others.
Enormously proud we are that Nickie Nicole, Inge Lamboo, Karen de Lathouder, Rikkie Kollé, André Donker and Haroon Ali are committed to our fantastic Pride as ambassadors from this edition onwards.
2023: #YouAreIncluded
Looking back on 25 years of Canal Parade and with now 50 Pride ambassadors, each with their own story and struggle, 2023 is a great year to take stock. The support of all the participants, visitors and partners of Pride Amsterdam is also invaluable. That is why this year everyone will take centre stage with the theme #YouAreIncluded. With this we show the world how unique Amsterdam is, that everyone matters and that together we are fighting for a safe future.
Queer Amsterdam provides the programming from 22 to 28 July and Stichting Pride Amsterdam from 1 to 6 August. The overarching programme for the two weeks is called Queer & Pride Amsterdam.
2022: My Gender, My Pride
IIeveryone should feel free to be themselves, without an imposed standard from outside. Unfortunately, reality is different and our emancipation is often far from complete. Even in the Netherlands, people are still being discriminated against and beaten up every day for who they are or who they love. In the past decades, our struggle has mainly been about 'being allowed to love who we want' and it is time to broaden the focus to 'being allowed to be how we feel'. In other words, time to pay attention to the diversity of gender identities and our right to self-determination. We have the right to deviate from the norm and gender we were given at birth.
Gender identity took centre stage with the theme 'My Gender, My Pride'.
Pride Ambassadors: Ahmad Joudeh, Barrie Stevens, BeyonG Veldkamp, Envy Peru, Jason Bhugwandass, Linda de Munck, Paul Morris, Ronald Benita, Suzanne van der Laar and Thorn de Vries.
2021: TAKE PRIDE in us
2021 marks the anniversary year for 25 years of Pride in Amsterdam. This year's theme was 'TAKE PRIDE in us'.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
This included a photo exhibition in Vondelpark from 21 July to 10 August and the release of a real glossy. With the photo book and exhibition, we look back on 25 years of Pride in Amsterdam and let ourselves be moved by images recalling highs and lows of our festival.
Pride Ambassadors: Axe Leito, Sherry Jae Ebere, Robin Lemònt, Tieneke Sumter, Boris Dittrich and Pete Wu.
2020: The Corona Edition
Pride Amsterdam came up with an alternative programme in 2020 to still be visible in 'corona time'. In mid-April, the organisation's board announced that Pride Amsterdam could not go ahead this year because of COVID-19. Therefore, an alternative programme had been devised for 25 July to 2 August.
In addition to nine days of live coverage on PrideTV and an online demonstration at the Concertgebouw, Pride Amsterdam was also highly visible on the streets of Amsterdam. This included the Proud Faces Of Pride Campaign, the Find-All-Flags Tour and the call to hang out your rainbow flag.
2019: Remember the past, create the future
Collaborating parties and organisations with special anniversaries. It was these two elements that took centre stage at this year's boat parade that included the Dutch Sports Boat, The Political Parties Boat and the Higher Education Boat. In addition, Vignettes for boats were sold along the shore for the first time.
This year's theme was based on the Stonewall riots that broke out in New York 50 years ago, marking a dividing line in the history of the LGBTQ+ movement. Pride Amsterdam could therefore not be left behind and joined the parade during World Pride New York.
Since July 2019, Pride Amsterdam has been credited in the Inventory of Intangible Heritage of the Netherlands.
Pride Ambassadors: Ellie Lust, Jeffrey Wammes, Raymond Timmer, Victoria False, Dinah Bons, Amber Vineyard and Justin Hermsen.
2018: Heroes
Pride Amsterdam's main aim this year was to draw attention to human rights around the world with its boat parade. The boats of Amnesty International, Greenpeace and the Human Rights Board, among others, had been declared 'pearls of the parade' by the organisation. The 'More than Wanted' foundation received the first 'Support Card 2018' from Rabobank.
The theme of the Pride was 'Heroes'. Everyone knows someone who deserves hero status. Because of what that person says, has done or not done. Think of people who take the lead, stand for something and publicly express it. These are people, whether LGBT or not, who stand up for human rights in general and/or our community in particular.
In 2018, Pride Amsterdam was voted Best Public Event in the Netherlands.
Pride Ambassadors: Jip van Leeuwen, Mieke Martelhoff, Loena Maas, Vanny Reyes, Jackson, Serdar Manavoglu, Francis van Broekhuizen and Jennifer Hopelezz.
Enormously proud we are that Nickie Nicole, Inge Lamboo, Karen de Lathouder, Rikkie Kollé, André Donker and Haroon Ali are committed to our fantastic Pride as ambassadors from this edition onwards.
2017: This Is My Pride
Many participants seized on the 2017 theme to discuss especially the 'heavy topics' during the famous boat parade. With an Iranian boat and a Suicide Prevention Boat, among others, the statements were heavier than ever.
To better serve the LGBT target groups, strengthen content and be inclusive for all, this year the Amsterdam Gay Pride foundation has strengthened and renewed the number of existing committees. This gives the nine-day festival even more content than before and allows target groups to identify better with the programme. The festival is also now called Pride Amsterdam.
Pride Ambassadors: Brothers Grimm, Ana Paula Lima, Sjors van der Panne, Souad Boumedien, Niki Today and Shary-An Nivillac.
2016: EuroPride - JOIN
In 2016, EuroPride was back in Amsterdam after 22 years. In September 2013, Amsterdam made a bid to bring EuroPride 2016 to its city. EPOA (European Pride Organisers Association) members unanimously chose Amsterdam to host the EuroPride in 2016. The Pink Saturday Foundation then decided that the capital could also host the Pink Saturday that year.
The EuroPride pride opened with a unique 'Freedom Concert' on Dam Square. International artists made their debut, including a fireworks show.
'Join our freedom, feel free to join us!' Director Lucien Spee: "With this message, Amsterdam Gay Pride wants to call on European countries, where people cannot yet be themselves, live freely or where human rights are under pressure, to join our way of thinking and our freedoms.
Unlike previous years, by the way, there was no draw for the boat parade, but a special balloting committee decided which boats could participate. Pearls in 2016 were Madrid Pride and the participation of Ukraine's Lady Gaga: Kamaliya.
Pride Ambassadors: Conchita Wurst, Margriet van der Linden, Valentijn de Hingh, Sipke Jan Bousema, Mayday and Tara Mcdonald.
2015: Share
The nine-day festival celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. It reflected in many ways on the question, "What has been achieved in 20 years and what has changed?".
Participants in the Canal Parade included boats calling attention to the situation of homosexuals among refugees, homeless people and in the Overseas Territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There was also an "empty" boat for the first time, equipped by KPN with a 360-degree camera, which allowed people to "sail along" with the boat parade virtually via the internet.
"To share is to multiply: shared joy is double joy and this is also true in the field of love," said Lucien Spee (Director AGP) on the theme. "Sharing is wanting to know how another person is doing, daring to be yourself, making yourself vulnerable."
Pride Ambassadors: Dolly Bellefleur, Emmaly Brown and Raymi Sambo.
2014: Listen
Amsterdam Gay Pride Foundation takes over from ProGay with director Lucien Spee from 2014.
The boat parade began with the commemoration of victims of disaster flight MH17. The Aids Fund, which lost two colleagues in the air disaster in eastern Ukraine, sailed ahead. Other notable boats included the Moroccan boat, an American boat, AMC's Donor Boat and again the Jewish boat.
Pride Ambassadors: Siep de Haan, Sheazy Pearl and Lady Galore.
2013: Reflect
During the 2013 Canal Parade, a boat of the Ministry of Defence once again sailed along, this time also carrying the Minister of Defence for the first time. Much media attention was also given to the KNVB boat on which a series of well-known former football players sailed.
Pride Ambassadors were created for the first time. Among others, Hans Verhoeven, Windy Mills and Raffaëla Paton were the very first to be appointed for life.
2012: On The Move
'Bigger, better and more beautiful.' That's how ProGay Foundation director Irene Hemelaar described the 17th Pride, which concluded on Sunday with a final party on Rembrandtplein.
A key moment was the launch of the Pride Walk in collaboration with Stichting Homomonument (then called Tears of Pride Walk). This parade was dedicated to homophobia and respect and has become a permanent part of Pride from 2012.
2011: All Together Now
At the front of the boat parade, a ship carrying uniformed military personnel from the Ministry of Defence sailed for the first time. Former Lieutenant Dan Choi from America and British naval officer Mandy McBain sailed on that boat. Choi lost his job in the US military when he came out of the closet. He subsequently became the face of the US gay rights movement.
The Hindu gay community also floated along to break a taboo. Along the canals, spectators again stood rows thick watching often beautifully dressed boats with their 'crews'.
To conclude Pride, a closing party traditionally took place on the Sunday on the square in front of the Stopera on the Amstel river. In 2011, this party was moved to the wider Rembrandtplein.
2010: Celebrate
2010 was a less colourful year due to a lot of rain, but nonetheless hundreds of thousands of visitors once again managed to find Pride. This year saw a Polish boat and a pink delegation from the Dutch Railways for the first time.
Many BN'ers also attended, including Patricia Paay, Job Cohen, Gerard Joling, Evert Santegoeds and Beau van Erven Dorens passed through Amsterdam's canals.
2009: Extraordinary
The parade was opened by a boat from the Amsterdam municipality. On this boat, five Dutch-American LGBT+ couples were united in marriage by Mayor Cohen during the parade. At the initiative of five Amsterdam schools, heterosexual young people also sailed along on a School Boat for the first time.
2008: Religion
The city was pink, the city was hot, the city was full. For the 13th time, LGBT+ Amsterdam waved to the city from the water.
In the United States, Amsterdam Gay Pride was named the best Gay Pride celebration in Europe in 2008.
2007: Music and Dance
In 2007, under the leadership of Frank van Dalen (then Director), the name was changed from Amsterdam Pride to Amsterdam Gay Pride. During the boat parade, for the first time there was an "official" boat with heterosexuals, a boat with mentally disabled people and two boats with Amsterdam civil servants. A boat with gay people under 16 also sailed along for the first time (Jong&OUT).
Mayor Cohen welcomed the fact that so many boats with a content theme sailed along. Cohen: "Colourful and tolerant! Amsterdam remains on the map as Gay Capital of Europe, because that is what we are and what we will continue to ensure."
2006: Rembrandt
In 2006, the ProGay Foundation took over from GBA. With chairman Hugo Braakhuis, Amsterdam and the organisation struck out in a new direction for Pride.
This year, many social institutions like Humanitas and political parties like GroenLinks and D66 participate. Now, under the motto "Personal Pride - Company Pride", multinationals like Shell, ING, TNT, IBM and ABN/AMRO also participated.
2005: Straight Ahead
The front boat of the parade was one that stood out. Not because of partying, but a political statement. Through a large photo of two Iranian boys hanged for their sexual orientation, attention was drawn to LGBT+ acceptance elsewhere in the world and what steps should still be taken.
2004: Pride Goes International
Ever-increasing municipal costs for permits and cleaning would threaten the survival of Amsterdam Pride, as well as a ban on rainbow flags and darkrooms. In protest against the latter, during the 2004 Canal Parade, the April, Exit, Exit Café and Soho boat was demonstratively equipped with a "darkroom" from which two huge inflatable hands protruded.
2003: Nude with a wink
Organiser Siep de Haan of GBA called for more 'nudity' on the boats this year. This was to counteract prudishness and prudishness in the city centre.
In the end, the call was not answered en masse, but it was another busy Pride with more visitors than ever before.
2002: Lift Me Up
For the seventh time, Amsterdam hosted the Canal Parade. Meanwhile, it also received increasing global interest. The Red Cross sailed along this year to draw more attention to people infected with HIV.
2001: Tolerance
For the first time, boats from the Arab gay café Habibi Ana and from the Jewish community Beit Ha'Chidush sailed along. The milestone was also reached for the opening of civil marriage to same-sex couples (Marriage Openness Act). The Netherlands was the first country in the world to open marriage. Then Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen performed the first 'gay' marriage in the Stopera.
2000: 5-years of Pride
In the new millennium, the Canal Parade came under pressure. The municipal environmental department announced it would measure noise pollution not at canal houses but on houseboats. Organiser Siep de Haan thought the municipality's rules were becoming too strict and indicated that it would then only be possible to hold a 'silent march'.
In Reguliersdwarsstraat, gay nightlife flourished and peaked at the Gay Pride street party on 5 August, when famous Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue unexpectedly performed in the street.
From 2000 (until 2003), a Drag King Contest took place at the COC building on Rozenstraat. As a counterpart to the well-known Drag Queen contests, this event was for women who dress like men. This was to draw attention to people who do not like to be labelled as either men or women.
1999: Relaunch 'Amsterdam Pride'
After its success in 1998, it was decided to continue 'Amsterdam Pride'. In addition to the boat parade and street parties, cultural and sports activities were added to the programme. A maximum of 80 boats were also allowed to sail along.
Despite a rainy weekend, an estimated 100,000 visitors did line the streets. At the end of the procession, a boat participated on behalf of, and in homage to, the newly burnt down nightclub Club RoXY.
1998: Opening Gay Games
In 1998, Amsterdam hosted the long-awaited Gay Games, coinciding with Gay Pride. The Gay Games took place outside North America for the first time and Amsterdam was the first European city designated to host all sports activities for a week. With over 14,000 athletes competing in some 30 sports disciplines and some 250,000 spectators from around the world, it resulted in the biggest LGBT+ celebration that had taken place in the Netherlands until then.
During the Gay Games, there was an atmosphere of freedom and solidarity in Amsterdam where LGBT+ people felt in the majority for the first time - a feeling that remains unmatched for many to this day. The Gay Games were also celebrated with street parties in Warmoesstraat, Halvemaansteeg and, of course, Reguliersdwarsstraat.
Also notable, KLM (the official sponsor of the Gay Games) sailed along this year as the first major corporate.
1997: Dress rehearsal Gay Games
In 1997, the second boat parade was organised. It became the dress rehearsal for the Gay Games that would take place in 1998. The Pride grew not only in visibility but also in visitors.
Amsterdam Pride initially lasted three days, with street parties on Friday and Saturday in Warmoesstraat, Crescentstraat, Kerkstraat, Paardenstraat and Reguliersdwarsstraat, and on Sunday a pink church service and the closing party.
1996: Pride Amsterdam
The very first boat parade on Amsterdam's canals. This year's theme' Proud of Amsterdam'. By GBA (Gay Business Amsterdam), one of the decisions made for Amsterdam Pride was to organise a boat parade along the canals. Initially, this Canal Parade would only be held three times, up to and including the 1998 Gay Games, but it proved so successful that it became an annual highlight of Amsterdam Pride.
The first boat parade on 3 August 1996 saw over 45 boats and small boats participate. However, participants had to sign a chastity declaration at the request of the police.
Amsterdam Pride was a festival, organised by gay hospitality entrepreneurs united in GBA, to promote Amsterdam as a gay entertainment city and celebrate the freedom and diversity of our city (which is still embedded in our festival's DNA). "It was a gift from the gay entrepreneurs to the city," says GBA spokesperson Siep de Haan.