Antwerp Gay Pride is a major cultural event intended to showcase the city's tremendous diversity and tolerance. Antwerp actually staged Belgium's first GLBT Pride Parade in 1979 but was without such an event before the celebration was redeveloped a few years ago.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Antwerp during Gay Pride.
Antwerp Gay Pride changes times this year, moving to August after having taken place in June in recent years. The move will make it possible for Pride in 2013 to coincide with World OutGames 2013, which takes place at this time in Antwerp. The dates of Antwerp Pride this year are August 6 to August 12. Organizers have made no secret of wanting to present a Gay Pride event that's less commercial than some currently held around Europe, although this action-packed event also has the support of the local retail and hospitality industries, who will definitely have a presence at the event. But organizers also see Antwerp Pride as a way to raise awareness of Gay Rights around the world, and to increase the visibility of Antwerp's highly visible (and enthusiastically accepted) GLBT community, which is quite sizable here. Since Belgium legalized gay marriage in 2003, and hundreds of same-sex couples have since tied the knot.
Details about Antwerp Pride 2012 will be added here as they become available. Here's a look back at last year's event, in the meantime:
Highlights of the week-long festival include Gil Do Brasil on stage, Popi's Hysterical Bus Tour, several gatherings related to various festishes (jockstraps, chaps, naked, boots, etc.), a singalong to the musical movie The Sound of Music, a reception at the Fashion Museum, and myriad parties and mixers at clubs and venues throughout the city. Here's a full schedule of activities and events.
On Thursday, there's an official Pride Opening Party, from 8 pm until midnight, at Het Roze Huis, a wonderful way to kick off the festivities.
One of the top events on Friday is the A Hard Night party, an mind-opening "Alpha Male" Fetish Party that takes place from 10 pm until 6 am at Club Petrol. There's also a highly popular edition of the noted lesbian (but open to guys) party, Cirque de Love at Red & Blue club - this is from 11 pm until 7 am the following morning.
Activities really kick into high gear on Saturday, with Pink Fair at Kammenstraat from 11 am until 6 pm, which includes a Mr. Gay Benelux Contest. Then from 4 pm until 11 pm on Saturday, at the city's Indiestraat (here on the map), the WAVE Open-Air Street Party will pull in thousands of revelers for dancing, mingling, cruising, and all-around hobnobbing - some of Europe's top DJs and music talents will be on hand. There are several parties throughout that night, including a Latin party at the fun gay bar, Que Pasa.
Sunday is Antwerp Pride's final day, and it includes the massive Rainbow Village (from 11 am on) and Pride Closing Party. It's held at Grote Markt, from 3 pm until 6 pm and features a number of live music acts - Lasgo, Petra, Sha-na, and more.
Many of the city's gay-popular bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. Check local gay papers, which are distributed at popular gay bars. And check out the Antwerp Gay Travel Guide by Patroc.com, which is very handy and has extensive information on the local gay scene. Additional excellent trip-planning resources are the travel site produced by Tourism Flanders, and the Gay Travel site operated by the Belgian Tourist Office.
