In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The Canal Parade is on Saturday 7 August 2027, from 12:00 to 18:00, along Oosterdok, Nieuwe Herengracht, the Amstel, Prinsengracht and Westerdok. Pride Amsterdam runs 31 July to 8 August 2027. The quay is car-free with a parking ban from 00:00 to 23:59, and amplified sound from the shore has been banned along the route since 2019. A boat of up to 10 metres that moors at the side needs a Pride Vignette, on sale from 1 July 2027. The theme and the participant regulations come out in mid-December. Or book a walk: the gay and queer city walking tourad is from £50.40, with a local guide (GetYourGuide, 1 October 2026).
The dates
Pride Amsterdam 2027 runs from 31 July to 8 August (pride.amsterdam, 1 October 2026). Listings from 2026 describe WorldPride Amsterdam, so use the 2027 dates here.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday 31 July | Pride Walk, 11:00 to 15:00, ending at Pride Park; Pride Park, 12:00 to 22:00 |
| Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 August | Open Air Film Festival, from about 21:00, on Mercatorplein |
| Saturday 7 August | Canal Parade, 12:00 to 18:00 |
The Pride Walk is organised by Homomonument and starts at 11:00 on Saturday 31 July; the start location is not published yet, and it finishes in the Vondelpark (pride.amsterdam, 1 October 2026). Pride Park is in the Vondelpark Open Air Theatre, with two stages over a 10-hour programme, a Rainbow Market, Sport Pride, and Junior, Youth and Student Pride (pride.amsterdam, 1 October 2026). The Open Air Film Festival turns Mercatorplein into a cinema with 400 seats for two evenings, free (pride.amsterdam, 1 October 2026).
The Canal Parade
Saturday 7 August 2027 · 12:00 to 18:00 · Oosterdok to Westerdok
The organiser describes a parade of boats on the city’s canals, on the route Oosterdok, Nieuwe Herengracht, the Amstel, Prinsengracht and Westerdok (pride.amsterdam, 1 October 2026).
- The quay. To make room for visitors the quayside is car-free, and a parking ban runs on the day from 00:00 to 23:59. Residents with a parking permit are offered somewhere else to park.
- Sound. Amplified sound on moored boats and on the shore has not been allowed along the route since 2019.
- Food and drink. Licensed bars sell beer, wine and soft drinks along the route, and food trucks sell burgers, fries, hot dogs, satay and ham rolls.
- Toilets. The page carries a map of toilet locations. Public urination is prohibited in Amsterdam, with a fine of €140.
- Litter. The organiser asks visitors to use the rubbish bags provided and put them in the bins along the route.
- Photography. The organiser makes photo and video recordings at the event for its own use.
- Access. The page lists the parade as wheelchair accessible. A section of the quay is cordoned off for visitors with disabilities, with wheelchair-accessible toilets, and each visitor may bring one companion; the registration form is to follow.
With your own boat
A boat of up to 10 metres may moor at the side of the parade, but visitors arriving by boat need a Pride Vignette. The organiser says this limits the number of boats and stops outside parties setting up their own events. Sales start on 1 July 2027 at botenparade.nl (pride.amsterdam, 1 October 2026).
To sail in the parade you register: organisations such as LGBTQIA+ foundations, advocacy groups, gay hospitality businesses, rainbow networks, political parties, ministries and companies that support the community can register from 4 January to 1 February 2027. The organiser announces the boats it has selected at the kick-off event on Saturday 13 February, and publishes the 2027 theme and the participant regulations in mid-December. Participants in some categories can apply to a visibility fund for up to €5,000.
Where to stay
Prinsengracht is on the parade route, and three hotels in Amsterdam hotels in canal houses have a Prinsengracht address: the Pulitzer Amsterdam, at Prinsengracht 323 (Hotels.comad), the Hotel Seven One Seven, at Prinsengracht 717 (Hotels.comad), and the Hotel Prinsenhof, at Prinsengracht 810 (Hotels.comad). With the quay car-free all day, allow time to walk in from the nearest street that is open; Amsterdam public transport has the GVB fares.
Where to stay in Amsterdam compares the areas, and every hotel adds 12.5% tourist tax on the room price before VAT in 2026.
Walks and nights out
GetYourGuide has no Canal Parade ticket. For a boat on the same canals on an ordinary day, see Amsterdam canal cruises compared; for a guide to the rest of the city:
Gay and queer city walk
From £50.40 · 5.0 stars from 41 reviews · 2 hours
Amsterdam: Gay & Queer City Walking Tour With a Local Guidead is a small-group walk through the city’s LGBTQI+ history, with a local guide. It is wheelchair accessible, with free cancellation.
Queer pub crawl
From £15.38 · 4.4 stars from 48 reviews · 4 hours
Amsterdam: Ludwig’s Queer Pub Crawl with Club Entryad visits five bars in the gay district with a free welcome shot at each, and the ticket covers entrance fees for the night.
For the rest of the calendar, see best time to visit Amsterdam; for the plan once you are here, 3 days in Amsterdam; for the way in from the airport, Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal; and for every booking and how far ahead, what to book before you go in Amsterdam.
Common questions
When is the Canal Parade in Amsterdam in 2027?
Saturday 7 August 2027, from 12:00 to 18:00. Pride Amsterdam 2027 runs from 31 July to 8 August, and the Pride Walk and Pride Park open it on Saturday 31 July.
What is the route of the Amsterdam Canal Parade?
Oosterdok, Nieuwe Herengracht, the Amstel, Prinsengracht and Westerdok, according to the organiser. The quayside is made car-free and a parking ban runs from 00:00 to 23:59 on the day.
Can I take my own boat to the Canal Parade?
Yes, a boat of up to 10 metres, to moor at the side, with a Pride Vignette. Vignette sales start on 1 July 2027 at botenparade.nl. Boats that take part in the parade register with the organiser between 4 January and 1 February 2027.
Is music allowed on the quay at the Canal Parade?
No. Amplified sound on moored boats and on the shore has not been allowed along the route since 2019. The music comes from the boats in the parade.
Is the Canal Parade wheelchair accessible?
The organiser lists it as wheelchair accessible. A section of the quay is cordoned off for visitors with disabilities, with wheelchair-accessible toilets, and one companion is allowed per visitor. A registration form is to follow.