Pride Amsterdam celebrates WorldPride 2026 with Canal Parade festivities

NPO Radio 2 broadcast live from the Canal Parade during Pride Amsterdam’s 30th edition, which also hosted the WorldPride event. Reporters Carolien Borgers, Tim Op het Broek and Chantal Koolhoven interviewed participants on the AVROTROS boat, including DJ Corné Klijn, trans activist Ian and his teammate, and the newly married couple Hans Schiffers and Rob. Highlights included Mischa Blok’s first appearance on a Pride boat and reflections on the celebration as both a protest and a party.

A jury comprising Ellie Lust, Cornald Maas and other judges evaluated the parade boats on themes of unity, activism and creativity. Lust noted that the jury looked beyond aesthetics to how each boat embodied the theme of unity. Maas praised a silent boat by the Regenboog Groep that honored homeless queer people, emphasizing that protest and celebration are inseparable. The event underscored the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ communities in the Netherlands and attracted national attention.