While the infamous De Wallen red-light district makes Amsterdam, a city whose flag has “XXX” emblazoned across it, a year-round destination (oh, admit it: You’re curious), come this August, the rest of the rainbow gets its time in the limelight. Gay Pride Amsterdam is the one place where “going Dutch” means something entirely different than what you might think.
There is no way around it: This party is gigantic. While the “official” Gay Pride Amsterdam is a three-day window, August 3-5, parties begin to erupt all over the city starting July 28, and even earlier in the outlying cities. A whopping 33 events are set to launch the city of Van Gogh and Armin van Buuren into the stratosphere, and some of them, official or not, are just too good to miss. Drag Queen Olympics? That’s on August 2. Nude clubbing? Check out Club Fuxxx (yes, that really is its name) on August 5. Also on the 5 is something called “Dirty Dicks” at a place called—Sweet baby Jesus—the Fist Factory. This may be the one party in the world that requires you to first attend a Lamaze class.
The centerpiece of Gay Pride Amsterdam is the Canal Parade spectacular on August 4, and it literally is IN a canal. The funny thing about Amsterdam: The city is either at or under sea level. Canals, all part of an ancient water-management system, criss-cross the city and the natives love ‘em, so unlike those of the famous terra firma pride routes of New York and London, in Amsterdam the pride floats really do float. Starting at the Westerdok Harbor, the Canal Parade starts at 2 pm, runs along the Prinsengracht canal/street, then turns left on to the Amstel River (now you know where the beer got its name), passing the famous Magere Brug bridge and the Stadshuis-Muziektheater to make a right in the direction of the Oosterdok waterfront. This is one of the biggest hotel-jamming events on the Dutch social calendar; if you want to go, officials urge booking ASAP.
And, FYI, it’s not just in Amsterdam that you can find a good Pride party. While the Dutch capital hosts the biggest event, the Roze Zaterdag (July 7) in the city of Haarlem and the Roze Mandaag festival (July 23) in Tillburg prove that this country is gay-friendly (and loves a good party) pretty much wherever you go, on land or off.
For more information and a full schedule of events, go to www.amsterdamgaypride.nl. Steele Luxury Travel offers amazing discount Business Class and Economy Class flights to Amsterdam and beyond as well as hotels with exclusive perks reserved for Steele Travelers! Contact us at 646-688-2274 or visit www.SteeleTravel.com.
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