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A blog about (hidden) Amsterdam
A blog about (hidden) Amsterdam
A few years ago, 2021 marked the 25th anniversary of the renowned Pride Parade through Amsterdam’s canals. But why does Amsterdam, whose mayor performed the world’s first legal gay marriage in April of 2001, celebrate in August when most cities celebrate Pride during the last week of June? Unsurprisingly, it’s all about history.
The Stonewall Uprising – which began in the early hours of Sunday, June 28, 1969 in Greenwich Village, New York – was a turning point in the modern gay rights movement. Led by trans women of color, LGBTQ+ people in New York City fought back against police harassment. Inspired, LGBTQ+ people from around the globe took action to fight for their rights. In the years that followed, LGBTQ+ communities worldwide arranged marches on the anniversary of Stonewall, establishing the tradition of celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride during the last week of June.
In the Netherlands, LGBTQ+ rights groups turned Pride into a deeply local day of action called Roze Zaterdag (Pink Saturday). Each year, it took place in a different Dutch city and consisted of events aimed at changing the political landscape. Roze Zaterdag confronted cities with the humanity of LGBTQ+ Dutchies and played a key role in campaigns to integrate LGBTQ+ people into mainstream Dutch society. However, it meant the Netherlands celebrated a weekend of political action rather than a colorful, celebratory Pride parade.
Enter the Gay Games. In 1998, LGBTQ+ athletes and celebrants from around the world flocked to Amsterdam for this global event. To energize the city and lay the social groundwork for the Games, organizers introduced a boat parade through Amsterdam’s canals in 1996 and 1997. The event’s incredible energy and joy inspired organizers to carry the tradition forward, creating the first official Amsterdam Pride Parade in August 1998.
This celebration was distinct from Roze Zaterdag, embracing the celebratory spirit of Pride while honoring Amsterdam’s unique LGBTQIA+ history.
And hey, why not hear some more incredible stories on our LGBTQ+ History Tour? Join us as we uncover the hidden gems of Amsterdam’s queer history and celebrate the incredible strides made by the community.
Check out some more Blamsterdam! posts.
Self-Guided Digital Tour
Use your phone to explore Amsterdam! This self-guided tour uses audio, images, maps, and text to introduce you to the women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and Jewish people who made Amsterdam what it is.
Private Walking Tour
Get a personalized tour that covers the interests you’re curious about and the neighborhoods you want to see. Choose pick-up/drop-off locations, any combination of our hidden history topics, and themes such as artists, politicians, and rebels.
Private Museum Tour
See the highlights and hidden icons of Amsterdam’s world-renowned Rijksmuseum in a private guided tour that explores who creates art and what stories it’s used to tell. And don’t worry about museum tickets. We’ve got you covered.
Small-Group Walking Tour
The women who shaped Amsterdam are more complex than traditional tours would have you believe. Go to Amsterdam’s historic sites to hear stories of women who fought, wrote, calculated and led through the city’s chaotic and complicated past.
Small-Group Walking Tour
In 1593, Jewish Amsterdammers began building a community in the relative safety of the city that transformed both the Netherlands and the world. Learn about these creative, compassionate, and challenging mavericks and their impact.
Small-Group Walking Tour
The world’s first gay marriage was officiated by the Mayor of Amsterdam at its City Hall. But did you know that the city’s LGBTQ+ history stretches centuries? Meet historical Amsterdammers across the gender spectrum and sexual orientations.
Small-Group Walking Tour
This historical tour through the busy Jewish quarter and residential Plantage neighborhood offers a selection of stories from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Jewish and women’s history. It’s the perfect way to get an alternative view of Amsterdam.