For an entire week in summer, Amsterdam paints the city in rainbow colors, dons glitzy feather boas, and all comes together to celebrate love, diversity, and acceptance. With a spectacular canal boat parade and parties you won't want to miss, Expatica provides a complete help guide to Pride in Amsterdam.
Pride Amsterdam began in 1996 like a festival to celebrate freedom, personal choice, and variety. From 27 July to 4 August 2020, you will see a vast array of activities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people. The color to put on is pink, although rainbow colors will also be now synonymous with the big event.
The theme for Pride Amsterdam 2020 is 'Remember yesteryear, produce the future'. This commemorates the Stonewall riots, which broke out in New York in 1969. In fact, the riots served like a decisive moment in the history of the LGBT movement.
Pre-Pride events in Amsterdam
Pride Walk: 27 July @ 11:00 -13:30 (Homomonument to Vondelpark)
Each year, Pride Walk is the first event to start Pride Amsterdam. Its message is to highlight the situation and frequently danger which LGBTQI people face in less tolerant countries, where homosexuality is sometimes included in the penal code. Flags from those countries are carried, inspiring speeches are made, then the peaceful march starts at the Homomonument down to the Vondelpark. Participate in, be yourself, and be seen!
After the Pride Walk comes the Pride Park opening party within the beautiful and centrally-located Vondelpark. Many activities take presctiption the agenda. They range from artists performing in the Vondelpark Openluchttheater, to live poetry, DJs, and sports activities. There's also a rainbow market where one can get Pride merchandise and knowledge concerning the organization and events.
During the Pride Park opening party, there's also a Youth Pride field for young adults to satisfy and revel in fun activities.
Milkshake Festival: 27 -28 July (Westerpark)
Amsterdam Pride Street Parties: 2 -3 August (various locations)
There are numerous street parties to celebrate Pride in and around Amsterdam where one can get into the spirit of products with other like-minded party people. Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amstelveld, Rembrandtplein, Spuistraat, and the Dam Square are the favorites. If you possess stamina, you can continue at one of the numerous gay club venues such as Paradiso, Marktkantine, Club Church, or Club Nyx.
Pride Canal Parade: 3 August @ 12:30 -18:00 (Grachtengordel)
The highlight of Amsterdam Pride has to be the primary canal parade on the Saturday. 80 themed boats take to the canals of Amsterdam with colorful DJs, go-go dancers, and drag queens. Boats sail from the Scheepvaartmuseum with the Amstel River, in the Prinsengracht, and finished for the Westerdok.
The grand finale of Pride Amsterdam
Pride Closing Party: 4 August @ 14:00 -22:00 (Dam Square)
The official closing party of Pride Amsterdam is on Dam Square and is free of charge. There is a large outdoor stage in front of the Royal Palace and everybody all comes together to celebrate the last day of the events. This season, you will see many famous international and Dutch DJs, artists, and other live acts.
You can also check out other worldwide pride festivals happening in 2020.
