Pride events, demonstrations take over Amsterdam in coming week

For the next nine days, Amsterdam will be filled with events and activities for Pride. With more than 300 activities during the festival –– more than ever, according to the organization –– Pride is back to normal after the coronavirus restrictions of the past few years.

Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf (Culture) and Mayor Femke Halsema will officially open the event on Saturday together with 10 Pride ambassadors in the Vondelpark. With the theme of the "Pride Amsterdam, My Gender, My Pride," the organization calls for extra attention to groups who have lagged behind in emancipation, such as people who are transgender or non-binary.

The annual Pride Walk will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Dam Square, a demonstration for equal rights for LGBTQ people worldwide. Participants will carry flags of countries where homosexuality is included in the penal code in order to draw attention to the oppression of LGBTQ people, according to the official website. The walking demonstration will end in Vondelpark, where Pride Park will take place with activities all day long.

The highlight of Pride will be the 25th edition of the famous Canal Parade on Aug. 6. The parade with 80 boats traditionally attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The program also includes dance parties, film festivals, sporting events, debate and culture. During the event, the parking garage on the Marnixstraat will be covered in a gigantic rainbow flag measuring 82 by 18 meters. The Pride flag will also be flying on the roof of Amsterdam Central Station and rainbow colors will be displayed on the digital signs. From Monday, the Westerkerk in Amsterdam, the Domkerk in Utrecht and the Catholic Dominican Church in Zwolle will be illuminated in rainbow colors by KRO-NCRV.