During Rotterdam Pride, the city celebrates pride, visibility, and acceptance for LGBTIQA+ people. Over ten days, nearly a hundred events fill the programme. The highlight is the Pride March through the city, followed by the Pride Festival at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge.
I think it’s really important that the Netherlands’ second city also has a celebration like this, and that the LGBTIQA+ community gets put in the spotlight.
Diversity, freedom and pride
In September, countless rainbow flags fly across Rotterdam. During Rotterdam Pride Week the city takes on this colourful combination as a symbol of diversity, freedom, and pride. Eva van der Vegt of agency Vermaeck organises Rotterdam Pride with real conviction. ‘I think it’s really important that the Netherlands’ second city also has a celebration like this, nd that the LGBTIQA+ community gets the spotlight it deserves.’
Pride March and Festival
The Pride March is organised by COC and Gay Rotterdam. It’s a demonstrative march that stands up for the visibility, solidarity, and equal rights of the LGBTIQA+ community. Along this colourful 3.5-kilometre route, a few thousand people walk from Stationsplein to Willemsplein, at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge. From there, the Pride Festival kicks off, drawing around 10,000 visitors who celebrate with live performances from artists and DJs.
Since 2025, Queertopia has given Rotterdam Pride a clear artistic direction. The concept sketches out a future in which queer people aren’t standing on the sidelines, but instead play a visible, active role in culture, creativity, and society.
Ninety events
For the ten-day Pride Week, organisations, makers, and initiators can submit their own events. Rotterdam Pride brings all the activities together through a central agenda and joint communications. Eva is proud of the number of submissions. ‘Last year, we had no fewer than ninety events, ranging from talks and conferences to sports matches and theatre performances.’ In 2025, Pride Week drew 35,000 visitors.
Eva sees that Rotterdam Pride is widely embraced across the city. ‘Bijenkorf, Theater Walhalla, and De Doelen, for example, all want to take part. These are cultural institutions, shops, and businesses simply saying: yes, this matters to us, and we want to be part of it.’
As far as I’m concerned, that really says something about how broadly Rotterdam embraces diversity.
Diversity Business Club
In 2025, Bureau Vermaeck launched the Diversity Business Club, connecting Rotterdam businesses that want to strengthen diversity, inclusion, and culture. It does so through two iconic Rotterdam events: Rotterdam Unlimited Summer Carnival and Rotterdam Pride. Both events stand as a symbol of the diversity, creativity, and community the city has to offer. Eva sees strong interest taking shape. ‘In just a year, we already have nearly fifty members. As far as I’m concerned, that really says something about how broadly Rotterdam embraces diversity. Yes, that’s a beautiful thing.’
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