Thousands march in Amsterdam Pride Walk, demand global LGBTQ+ rights

Several thousand people marched through central Amsterdam on Saturday during the 13th annual Pride Walk, calling attention to LGBTQ+ rights worldwide and urgent issues affecting the transgender community in the Netherlands.

The peaceful demonstration began and ended on the Dam, with participants walking under the motto: “We’re here, we’re queer, we will not disappear!” The Pride Walk serves as the opening act for the city’s broader Pride Amsterdam celebrations, which will officially kick off next weekend and culminate in the widely attended Canal Parade.

Among the prominent groups marching was Transgender Netwerk, which used the occasion to spotlight excessive wait times for transgender healthcare in the Netherlands. Demonstrators carried signs reading: “Please hold the line, there are still 7,000 people ahead of you. The wait time can be up to six years.”

The Pride Walk is a protest march, not a festival, and its organizers emphasize global solidarity with LGBTQ+ people facing persecution and discrimination. This year's edition brought together activists, organizations, and allies from across the country and abroad.

Pride Amsterdam, which includes debates, exhibitions, parties, and community events, will run over the coming week, ending with the Canal Parade, traditionally the highlight of the festivities.