Pridewatch: Amsterdam

Photos in Order: (1,4) copyright DutchAmsterdam.nl, (2) by Quentin Xerxes Zamfir, (3) courtesy Getty Images, (5) courtesy Geert van der Wijk
Story by Joseph Alexiou

One of Europe's gay-friendliest capitals, Amsterdam is host to a legendary pride celebration with unique parade floats that, in their utility, top almost any others across the globe: They actually float (!), because Amsterdam's Pride Parade takes place in its majestic canals.

Gay pride weekend is officially July 30 to August 2, with the official opening ceremony on Thursday at the city's famous Homomonument, one of the few permanent civil homages to queerdom. Located in Westemarkt, the 6 p.m. ceremony extends to midnight and will be officiated Frank van Dalen, the sexy former president of COC Nederland and an active member of VVD, a liberal dutch political party. Also unique to Amsterdam is the GreyPride party at Paleis van de Weemoed. This monthly fête celebrating LGBT's who are 40 and older will also take place on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.

 However Friday is the "first real party night" of  pride, with street parties along some of the many intricately named Amsterdam thoroughfares: the young and trendy gays will collect along Reguliersdwarsstraat and Amstel Westmarkt (near the monument), while women tend to gather along Paardenstraat. Other gay street parties will be going on at Thorbeckeplein and Amstelveld, popular streets for the general population of the city (the last two will be the most mixed of the parties).

Club Rapido's Reflexxx party and Club Exit's pride party are the main indoor events, while Furball will serve the bear community. The Next Door Dance women-only party will get down at Club Rain.

The Canal Parade on Saturday, August 1 requires no trucks, but 75 "spectacularly decorated boats with beautiful boys and girls." With over 350,000 spectators from the bridges, banks, and boats on the river, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the party boats will drift by on the Prinsengracht and Amstel River.

Ever the party town, the highlight nighttime event will be Fresh at Club Marcanti—featuring beats by world-famous Israeli DJ Offer Nissim. Powerzone will feature the Amsterdam White Party while Bear Neccessity (muscle bears and lovers) will head to Club Odeon—while all of the Perverts will head over to Church (no, really; the leatherboy party "Perverts" takes place in Club Church).

 For those in need of nearby lodging, the four-star Eden Rambrant Square is very close to the gayborhood and the favored property by NightTours, an Amsterdam gay nightlife guide (and Pride organizer). Also recommended is the gay-owned Jolly Carlton. Located on Reguliersdwarsstraat, you can't get much closer to the party than this location.

With nothing but dancing and celebrating planned for 48 hours, the Sunday recovery party is a late afternoon celebration at the Stopera, with more artists and DJs and a very mixed and Amsterdam-ish crowd. For those with the strength still in them, the circuit party Rapido will start at Paradiso from around 5 p.m. until 2 a.m., for those who can't get enough "booze, boys and beats."

Comments

[Greg]

I guess you just had to have been there. but I do love men who look good in red. But over there they are not.

[JustAReader]

Along with this the Dutch also have the legalized murder of the old. Something like one in ten Dutch will be murdered in their sleep by their doctors. Why? They're too old, cost too much to care for and get in the way. Homosexuality, abortion, contraception, and euthenasia - the culture of death that Pope John Paul II warned us about. You can ignore all of this...until you're old and the doctor comes at you with a needle.

[Conor]

"Something like one in ten Dutch will be murdered in their sleep by their doctors. Why? They're too old, cost too much to care for and get in the way."

No, fewer than 0.2% of Dutch people die through euthanasia. It's not murder - it's something patients request, usually to free themselves from incredible pain and suffering. It has nothing to do with expense. People who want to continue with treatment have that care paid for in full by the government, no problems. You are uninformed and portraying things incorrectly.

[AA]

What a load of rubbish and uninformed comment from "over there". As usual, unfortunately, the typical American lack of intelligence, experience, exposure and understanding of what goes on in the big world out there. Feel sorry for the many nice and intelligent Americans that so often end up taking the blame for the ones that, like the above commentators, are so eager and happy to display their shortcommings.