Thousands gather in Amsterdam for WorldPride under tight security
Amsterdam’s WorldPride drew hundreds of thousands as 250 concrete blocks, bag checks and extra police turned the canal parade into a celebration under watch.
Hundreds of thousands of revellers lined Amsterdam’s canals on Saturday for WorldPride’s flagship Canal Parade, as the city ran the celebration behind a heavier security cordon after the deadly Berlin Pride attack.
The parade ran from noon to 6 p.m. through the city centre, East and West, following a route from Oosterdok to Nieuwe Herengracht, the Amstel, Prinsengracht and Westerdok. The event sat inside a two-week WorldPride program that ran from July 25 to August 8, with Amsterdam marking the 30th anniversary of Pride Amsterdam and the 26th edition of WorldPride.
Security had visibly changed across the city. Amsterdam placed 250 concrete blocks along the canals, nightclubs carried out extra bag searches and police increased their presence throughout the city. Concrete barriers were also installed at some Pride event locations to help guard against vehicle attacks, turning the festival route into a managed corridor of celebration and protection.
The extra precautions reflected a new reality for Pride events in Europe, where organizers are trying to preserve visibility and public joy while operating under the shadow of political violence. At Amsterdam’s Homomonument, a memorial service for victims of the Berlin Pride attack was held on July 28, a reminder that the threat shaping this year’s celebration was not abstract.
For some participants, the added security felt like both reassurance and warning. One 32-year-old American taking part in the festivities pushed back against the atmosphere of intimidation, saying, “People try to intimidate you, want you to run away and hide. You want me to hide? I'm going to come out even louder,”
Amsterdam’s long reputation as a welcoming host helped draw the crowd, but the security measures made clear how vulnerable large public celebrations have become. The city kept the parade moving, loud and visible, while showing how much of Pride in Europe now depends on keeping celebration and caution in the same frame.
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