A Guide to Amsterdam Pride

Like many of the most famous cities in the world, Amsterdam has its own Pride festival each year to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and it makes for a great time to visit and join in the fun. Amsterdam Pride has been running since 1996 and is a celebration of diversity and freedom with activities across the city in late July and early August. Getting to Amsterdam by ferry is a great option to start the celebrations early, and here’s our guide to enjoying Amsterdam Pride and getting the most out of your trip.

The Coveted Canal Parade

The highlight of most Prides is the parade, as that’s how they initially started. In Amsterdam, the parade comes with a local twist as it takes place on the famous canals that run through the city. The boats begin on the Saturday at the Scheepvaart museum and runs through the Prinsengracht canal towards the Westerdok.

Getting a good viewpoint for the Canal Parade is always a challenge because of its immense popularity. Luckily, the parade route is long and the boats move slowly so you can take your time finding a good spot without missing too much. The bridges are, of course, popular spots, as is the Eenhoornsluis at the end of the route. You can get around the city on the metro, but be aware that it will be busy on this day.

Spectacular Parties

When the parade finishes at around half four, the after parties begin and this is when Pride really comes alive. The three main ones can be found at Amstelveld, Dam Square and Rembrandtplein, though there’s plenty of others and some that take place on the Friday night as well if you want to get into the festival spirit early. Of course, the whole city is one big party for Pride, with lots of smaller events taking place in bars and clubs, so do your research and you’ll find the right one for you.

The Best of the Rest

Amsterdam Pride is jam-packed with events across the weekend, like the Drag Queen Olympics on the Friday at the Westermarkt or the various LGBT arts, culture and history tours of the city. There’s also LoveSwim, an urban swimming event in the Amstel river, LGBT film festivals and theatre shows and family events.

Visiting During Pride

It goes without saying that Pride is a very popular time to visit Amsterdam, so book well ahead to get good hotels, with the Rembrandtplein a good central location to aim for as you’ll be able to walk to most of the main events from there. Take lots of water to drink and wear comfortable but fabulous clothes and you’ll be all set for a fantastic Pride.

So, there you have it, a complete guide to Amsterdam Pride!