De Nieuwe Kerk rings bells for stamp honoring 25 years of same-sex marriages

A special postage stamp commemorating the 25th anniversary of the first same-sex marriage was unveiled at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, accompanied by the ringing of the church bells. The colorful stamp is said by the organization to represent both the diversity of the queer community and the milestone of the marriage anniversary.

The event at De Nieuwe Kerk also kicked off the countdown to this summer’s WorldPride in Amsterdam. The city was selected to celebrate the 25th anniversary of same-sex marriage, the 30th Pride Amsterdam, and the 80th anniversary of the COC.

Now in its tenth edition, the international festival will run a week longer than the usual Pride and is expected to be the largest yet, attracting LGBTI activists from across the globe.

On July 8, Pride Month kicks off with the opening of the exhibition “Queer Amsterdam, the Pink City,” as announced Wednesday by Paul Mosterd, director of De Nieuwe Kerk, and Pride director Lucien Spee de Castillo Ruiz. The exhibition, held in the church on the Dam, honors the bravery and activism of Amsterdam’s rainbow community, while also showing how fragile the freedoms they have gained remain. It will be open until April 4, 2027.

WorldPride will take place during the final two weeks of Pride Month, from July 25 to August 8. The annual boat parade, typically the grand finale of Pride Amsterdam, is scheduled for August 1, with events and festivities continuing for an additional week. The theme for this year is Unity.

A spokesperson said, “When we selected the theme, we had no idea the world would be in such turmoil. It is now more relevant and urgent than ever.”

As of early 2026, there were 25,000 same-sex married couples in the Netherlands, nearly evenly divided between men and women. Amsterdam has the highest concentration, with 44 same-sex couples per 1,000 married couples, followed by Nijmegen and Groningen with 35 and 29 per 1,000, respectively.

LGBTIQ+ rights group ILGA reports that 37 countries now permit same-sex marriage. In almost twice as many countries, homosexuality remains illegal, and in some places, same-sex relationships can even result in the death penalty.

Mayor Femke Halsema married three same-sex couples at Amsterdam City Hall just after midnight on Wednesday. Prime Minister Rob Jetten attended the weddings, making it a special occasion. As the Netherlands’ first openly gay prime minister, he said it was an honor to be present.