Love on the Canals – 30 Years of Canal Parade

A city in motion

‘Love on the Canals – 30 Years of the Canal Parade’ dives into the history, significance and future of the world-famous boat parade. Using photographs from various archives, the exhibition shows how what began in 1996 as a celebration to attract more LGBTQIA+ visitors to the city in the summer, has grown into a nine-day festival and one of the largest and most remarkable celebrations worldwide. In addition, there are personal stories to be heard that bring the development of the Canal Parade to life.

Anniversary year

For 30 years now, Amsterdam’s canals have provided the backdrop for one of the city’s most unique events. At the same time, the city is celebrating important anniversaries, including 80 years of COC Nederland and 25 years since same-sex marriage was legalised. And in 2026 Amsterdam will host WorldPride for the first time.

Art by Yamuna Forzani

As part of the exhibition, a number of textile works by artist and queer activist Yamuna Forzani will be on display. In her work, Yamuna depicts a colorful, utopian queer world, with her community at its center.

Guest curator

The exhibition was developed in collaboration with Gijs Stork. He is a cultural organizer and facilitator based in Amsterdam (NL) and Champéon (FR), working at the intersection of art, culture, and community building, with a strong focus on queer art, artisanal craftsmanship, and inclusive cultural programming. In addition, Gijs Stork is involved with the platform Queer Currents, where he contributes to the organization, production, and strategic development of programs that highlight queer art, culture, and social dialogue.

This exhibition has been made possible thanks to the support of the Empowermentfonds and Stichting Pride Amsterdam.