

Amsterdam Gay Pride 2008 will take place from 31 July to 3 August 2008 under the slogan, ‘We are Amsterdam Pride’.
The highlight of Amsterdam Pride will continue to be the illustrious Canal Parade on Saturday 2 August between 14:00 and 18:00. It is the only Gay Pride event in the world that takes place on the water, with over a half million onlookers on bridges, boats and water banks.
The colourful boat ‘procession’ will follow a route from the Westerdok onto the Amstel, Zwanenburgwal, Oude Schans and Oosterdok.
A unique aspect this year is that the minister for the emancipation of homosexuals, Mr. Plasterk, will join the Canal Parade.
Amsterdam Gay Pride will offer many festivities including street parties, sporting events and a film festival. Most street parties are held around the Rembrandtplein, along the Amstel Canal between the Muntplein and the Amstelstraat, on the Reguliersdwarsstraat and the Zeedijk.
Last year Amsterdam Gay Pride drew in a record amount of visitors. Some 400,000 people watched the Canal Parade, where a record 72 boats took part. For the first time there were also boats with heterosexuals, gay youths under 16, city boats and the mentally handicapped.