The 25^th edition of the Pride Amsterdam boat parade takes place in the Dutch capital on Saturday afternoon, with tens of thousands of people expected to come and join in the celebrations.

In total, 80 boats are taking part in the official parade, which starts in the eastern docklands area at midday and follows a route around the city centre, ending in the Westerdok in the late afternoon.

The parade was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus restrictions.

This year the theme is My Gender, My Pride to focus attention on a wider part of the LBTQI+ community.

‘We want to show the world how unique Amsterdam is, that everyone can join in, and that we are all supporting each other for a safe future,’ Pride Amsterdam director Lucien Spee de Castillo Ruiz said.

Not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community is happy about the direction Pride has taken since its inception in 1996, with some arguing it has become too commercial and taken over by corporate interests.

In particular, the boat parade, which rounds off a week of festitivies, has been criticised for its entertainment value.