The exhibition Queer Amsterdam, The Pink City in the Nieuwe Kerk takes visitors past iconic moments that have put the city on the international map as a free port for love and identity. From the founding of the COC in 1946 and the unveiling of the Gay Monument in 1987 to the first Canal Parade in 1996 and the opening of marriage in 2001, the exhibition shows how freedom was fought for step by step. At the same time, the exhibition makes clear that acceptance was never taken for granted - and still is not.
Remarkably, WorldPride 2026 coincides with a historic anniversary. Exactly twenty-five years ago, four same-sex couples officially said yes to each other for the first time in Amsterdam. A moment that came to symbolize progress, equality and visibility worldwide. That history is an important anchor point within the exhibition.
With the motto a quest for love & freedom, relevant to all Queer Amsterdam explicitly targets a broad audience. Not only international visitors traveling to the capital next summer, but also Dutch people, schoolchildren and students are invited to reflect on the meaning of freedom, identity and solidarity. The exhibition therefore runs exceptionally long, until April 4, 2027.
“Freedom is never finished. Queer Amsterdam shows how love, visibility and courage have formed the soul of the city for generations.”
Current events give the exhibition extra charge. Worldwide, the position of the rainbow community is under pressure and in Amsterdam, too, concerns about safety and acceptance are on the rise. For this very reason, Queer Amsterdam feels not only like a celebration, but also a necessary call for continued vigilance and connection.
The exhibition is being realized in collaboration with IHLIA LGBTI Heritage, the largest lhbtqia+ archive in the Netherlands, among others. Simultaneously, the book Queer Amsterdam | Atlas of the pink city, in which dozens of authors reflect on the history, diversity and future of the community.