Canal Parade 2026

The Route

The parade kicks off around 12:00 PM at the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum), in the eastern part of the city centre. From there, the boats will sail along the Amstel River, continuing onto the Prinsengracht, and concluding near the Westerdok.

Please note: First boats reach the start of the Prinsengracht approximately 30-60 after the official start.

Route map

Times shown on the map are just an indication. Some years everything goes to plan, some other years there are "traffic delays" because of broken boats on the canals.

Best Viewing Spots

The parade route stretches several kilometers, offering many fantastic spots to watch the spectacle. However, it gets extremely busy—especially on bridges and quays—so plan to arrive early.

Popular viewing locations:

• Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge): a scenic early point on the route. Boats arrive here soon after the start.
• Along the entire Prinsengracht: great views and occasional shady spots.
• Eenhoornsluis: at the end of the route, offering excellent photo opportunities.

Bridges fill up hours before the parade begins, so be early if you want a front-row view.

Afterparties

After the parade, the celebration continues with street parties kicking off around 16:00 in various locations throughout the city. For the full party agenda and event listings, check our events page.

Stay overnight

Stay in Amsterdam center and experience Pride till the late hours. We created a page on which areas are best to stay.

Getting There

Public transport is the best way to reach the city centre on parade day.

• Take a train to Amsterdam Central Station and walk to the route.
• Alternatively, travel to Amsterdam Zuid Station and take the North/South metro line (Noord/Zuidlijn) to Vijzelgracht—you’ll be right in the heart of the parade!
• Metro stations like Waterlooplein also place you close to the action.

See ns.nl for trains and gvb.nl for trams and metro. Note that not all trams will be able to run their normale route because of the expected crowds.

Want to Participate with a Boat?

Applications to participate in the Canal Parade open in February via the official Pride Amsterdam website. A lottery in March will determine which 80 boats get selected. Only these official floats are allowed to join the parade.

Private boats under 10 meters may moor along the route, but a permit must be purchased in advance. Note: playing music on moored boats is not allowed.

Joining a Parade Boat

Wondering how to join a float? Most boats are hosted by companies and LGBT+ organizations and typically invite employees, friends, or partners. Public participation on these boats is generally not available.

Let us all come together to celebrate pride, freedom, and love—on the water and along the canals—during the Canal Parade.