Amsterdam perparing for Canal Parade's hundreds of thousands of attendees

Amsterdam is getting ready for the Canal Parade, which will take place for the 27th time on Saturday and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Longer trains will run to and from the capital all day long, thousands of extra bins will be placed along the route, and there will be extra toilets throughout the city.

On Saturday, the trains to Amsterdam will be longer during the day, and the departing trains will be longer in the evening. There will also be extra staff at the stations to help travelers. NS advised travelers to consult the travel planner before departure and advised against taking the last train on the way back. “It can be very crowded.”

There will also be a Change Station at Amsterdam Central Station from 8:00 a.m., where travelers who do not want to sit on the train in their Pride outfits can get ready. The changing station, located in the eastern wing on the city side of the station building, offers changing rooms, make-up tables, and wash basins.

Clothing store Primark has reserved changing rooms in its Damrak branch “for anyone who wants to get changed safely for Pride.” McDonald’s also provides changing rooms and lockers. Visitors can go to the McDressing Rooms on the Rozenstraat.

The municipality and Waternet urged visitors to keep the city clean and to throw waste in a bin. “Confetti, balloons, flags, party clothes, flamingos, cups, cans, bottles, party tents, and inflatable dolls do not belong in the water or on the ground, but in a bin. And yes, even the latter two were fished out of the water by our colleagues last year,” said Waternet, which will clean the canals after the Canal Parade. Special “waste coaches” will hand out garbage bags along the route and on the water.

To prevent bottles and cans with a deposit from being thrown away, extra donation bins have been placed. There are also extra collection points at supermarkets, and a mobile collection point will drive around where deposits can be donated. Cleaning teams will also walk around and collect cans and bottles.

The municipality reported that extra toilets will be available in the city during the boat parade. They can be found via a digital map. Public urination carries a fine of 140 euros.