Amsterdam, one of the world’s great capitals of gay culture, has one of the most popular Gay Pride celebrations in Europe, attracting revelers from all over for a week of festivals and artistic and cultural events, culminating in the famous and colorful parade of the Amsterdam Canal. Amsterdam Gay Pride takes place each year in late July and early August – this year’s dates are July 23 to August 7, 2016, with the famous Amsterdam Pride boat parade scheduled for the Saturday, August 6.
It is a particularly special celebration this year, however EuroPride 2016 coincides with Amsterdam Pride during these two weeks. The festivities include an attractive combination of sporting events, cultural programs, lectures, political debates, religious observations, debates, lectures, concerts and much more. Check the event calendar for more details.
Fans of the big international Pride celebrations can also go ahead and mark their calendars, because next year, the latest edition of World Pride will arrive in Madrid from June 23 to July 2, 2017.
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Although the highlights of Amsterdam Pride are the final weekend, a variety of street festivals, circuit-style disco parties, artistic and cultural performances, and sporting events are organized in the weeks leading up to the big weekend, and this will be especially true with EuroPride taking place at the same time. Here’s a full and detailed schedule of Amsterdam Gay Pride and EuroPride events, including the initial Roze Zaterdag (Pink Saturday) viewing on July 23 at Vondelpark and Dam Square, along with the Amsterdam Pride Walk, which begins at the inspiring Homomonument in Dam Square.
During the big weekend, Friday to Sunday, August 5-7, the biggest and busiest events of the Amsterdam Pride take place. These include a series of street parties along the city’s key streets for gay parties (Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amstel, Westermarkt, Paardenstraat, New West, Zeedijk Seawall, etc.).
Saturday afternoon (2 to 6 pm), August 6, is the date of the most famous event of the week, the spectacularly colorful and festive Amsterdam Gay Pride Canal Parade, during which 80 sail elegant boats along the elegant Prinsengracht Canal from near the Centraal train station, and then down the Amstel river to Oosterdok. It is one of the most colorful gay pride parades in the world. That night, the fun continues with more street festivals and parties that last until the wee hours of the morning.
The celebration comes to a close on Sunday, but there is still plenty to see and do on that day, including a closing Pride party and various other parties.
Amsterdam Gay Resources
As you might expect, the city’s many gay-popular bars, restaurants, hotels and shops have more activities than usual during the Amsterdam Pride period. Check out online resources on Amsterdam’s gay scene, such as the comprehensive Amsterdam Gay NightTours Guide, the handy Amsterdam4Gays.com site, and the Amsterdam Gay Guide Patroc.com. Also take a look at the excellent gay travel site produced by the city’s official tourism organization, the Amsterdam Tourist Office.
Also worth reading is Amsterdam’s About.com travel site, which is packed with tips on what to see and do, where to stay, and other aspects of visiting this charming European cultural capital.
