Travel bucket list idea:
Amsterdam’s Gay Pride
Amsterdam , North Holland, Netherlands
Credit Shutterstock.com/Anjo Kan
Last updated: 02 December, 2024
The largest Pride festival in The Netherlands kicks off on the first weekend of August, with nine days of celebration crammed with over 300 events.
Street parties, concerts, performances, open-air movies and sporting events take place across the city and beyond — including the beaches of Zandvoort, a 45-minute train ride from Amsterdam.
The high point is the Canal Parade, where 80 creatively-decorated boats carry the flamboyantly-dressed (and undressed) through the city’s waterways, as tens of thousands gather along the banks to cheer on the colourful procession. Events are free, including the eight-hour-long closing night concert in Dam Square.
Logistics
Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 13+
Frequency: annually
When: 1st weekend August
Duration: 9 days
Getting there & doing it
Events are free but space may be limited, so arrive early. The banks along the Prinsengracht are usually the most crowded – but also the most atmospheric. To secure a spot to watch the Canal Parade, you’ll need to get there as early as 9am (the parade usually starts around 1 pm).
Book your hotel room well in advance and expect astronomical rates (August is also high tourist season).
When to do it
The pride runs for nine days, traditionally starting on the last day of July and ending with the Canal Parade on the first Saturday of August.
