Hundreds of thousands of people expected at Amsterdam Canal Parade

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to attend the Canal Parade in Amsterdam on Saturday. Eighty boats can be seen on the Amsterdam canals, each responding in their own way to the #TOGETHER theme. They want to draw attention to the fight for equal rights for the rainbow community.

Ook in #regenbooggemeente Diemen vieren wij mee met Queer & Pride in Amsterdam. Morgen is de Canal Parade met als thema ‘Together’. De Progress vlag hangt uit want we hebben elkaar nodig om te zorgen dat iedereen zichzelf kan zijn. Maak er een prachtig laatste #Pride weekend van! pic.twitter.com/dEC2Qpw4HS

— Erik Boog - burgemeester Diemen (@ErikBoog) August 2, 2024

The 27th edition of the famous boat parade starts at noon at the Oosterdok and continues via the Nieuwe Herengracht, the Amstel, and the Prinsengracht to the Westerdok, where the last boat will arrive at around 6 p.m. Splinter Chabot will once again host the live broadcast of AVROTROS, which will be shown on NPO 2.

The director of Pride Amsterdam, Lucien Spee de Castillo Ruiz, says the theme #TOGETHER represents the fact that the LGBTQ+ community "is stronger together, despite and thanks to the differences between them. Fortunately, when it comes to equal rights, we know how to find each other."

The annual Pride in Amsterdam should be seen as a message of love for our loved ones and also for those who are further away from us "but face similar challenges due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or diversity in gender development," the initiators of the event state.

According to the organizers, there will once again be "a whole range of beautiful boats with a message" this year. For example, people with a (mental) disability will be sailing on the Unlimited Together boat. This concerns "a large group of invisible LGBTQ+ people" who often spend their entire lives "fighting for double acceptance."

However, Amnesty's boat will remain empty this year. The human rights organization wants to draw attention to the "discriminatory and criminalizing legislation against the LGBTQ+ community worldwide." On the boat of Poz&Proud, part of the HIV Association will be two men who have been cured of HIV.

Cas Wolters, known from Heel Holland Bakt, has his own boat on which K3 will perform. There will again be boats with employees from the national government, the municipality of Amsterdam, the province of Noord-Holland, the Ministry of Defense, the police, and the fire department. State Secretary Mariëlle Paul (Emancipation) will sail on the Youth Pride boat.

Furthermore, the COC interest group will be advertising with banners along the route. "Stop the violence against the rainbow community" is the call from the organization, which is supporting the campaign with a letter to the Cabinet and an opinion piece in the Volkskrant.

The COC wants the government to tackle violence and discrimination against LGBTI+ people. The action is due to the "alarming increase in discrimination figures." Earlier this year, it emerged that the number of reports of LGBTQ+ discrimination has increased by almost a quarter. "As far as we are concerned, it is up to the Schoof Cabinet to demonstrate that it is really there for everyone and excludes no one," says COC chair Astrid Oosenbrug. "We are calling for strong measures against violence and discrimination, on whatever grounds."

As far as COC is concerned, tackling discrimination starts at school, "where everyone must learn to treat each other with respect and respect mutual differences." In addition, the association advocates for higher legal penalties for discriminatory violence and criminalization of LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Discrimination against Muslims, anti-Semitism, and discrimination based on gender, gender identity, and disability are also increasing, according to COC. "These are uncertain times for the Netherlands and the world. As has often been the case in history, minorities are being blamed as scapegoats. With rising discrimination figures as a result."

Overall, the weather forecast for the boat parade looks quite favorable. According to Weeronline, it will not rain this weekend, but it is still advisable to bring a rain poncho. The sun will often shine through, and on Saturday, it will be around 22 degrees in the capital.