It was also the year when the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex civil marriage and grant same-sex couples adoption rights. In 2001 the theme was “Tolerance”, this year was the first time boats representing the Arab and Jewish community were part of the parade. Since 2001, Pride Amsterdam has chosen different themes to for the festival to draw attention to specific aspects or celebrate special occasions. The Canal Parade has become an annual highlight of the festival which has grown into a nine-day event and is one of the best and largest celebrations of its kind worldwide.
![what was the first gay pride parade like what was the first gay pride parade like](https://gdb.rferl.org/2C38488C-B9A7-4B8E-A07D-F0C5C988E154_cx0_cy3_cw0_w250_r1_s.jpg)
From then on the event grew in size and popularity, in 1997 the number of spectators had already tripled. The event became part of Amsterdam Pride, two years prior to the Gay Games, on 3 August 1996, consisted of at least 45 boats of different sizes and was attended by 20,000 spectators. The idea for a Canal Parade came from the bid book for the Gay Games of 1998 which was presented in 1992. Instead the event was meant to promote Amsterdam as a gay nightlife city and to celebrate the freedom and diversity of the city.
![what was the first gay pride parade like what was the first gay pride parade like](https://www.queerevents.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/images/queer-content/history/montreal-1979-first-pride.png)
Back in 1996Īmsterdam Pride, as it was known then, was never intended as a demonstration for equal rights. Because we always adjust the routes of our cruises depending on the amount of traffic on the canals and the size of the boat, we can continue to offer cruises even during the Canal Parade. Since the very beginning of Pride Amsterdam in 1996, the festival has included a Canal Parade through the city’s 17 th century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In August 2021 the Dutch capital will celebrate Pride Amsterdam for the 25 th time.
![what was the first gay pride parade like what was the first gay pride parade like](https://media.them.us/photos/5ef27e776615faef40dc2edc/master/w_1920,h_1286,c_limit/04_pride_protest.jpg)
The history of the Pride Amsterdam Canal Parade