Mechelen's Canal Pride to get a second, larger edition next year

Mechelen is set to host a second edition of its Canal Pride next year, following the success of its inaugural event. Co-organizer Vincent De Coninck and alderman for Community Affairs Abdrahman Labsir confirmed the upcoming event, with Labsir humorously stating he "can't go back" on his public promise.

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On every piece of land where we came with the boat, there were people. An incredible atmosphere, only smiling faces, only happy people, only love. That's what we did it for.

The first Canal Pride, which took place on the Dijle River this past Saturday, saw an unexpectedly large turnout. De Coninck estimated between 700 and 800 people attended, far exceeding his personal hope of around 300. Participants in decorated boats and kayaks paraded through the city center, along the Keerdok and the harbor, concluding at the Haverwerf. The event, initiated by HLWM (Homo- and Lesbian Association Mechelen), marked Belgium's first-ever pride event on water.

De Coninck described the atmosphere as "incredible," filled with "only smiling faces, only happy people, only love." Alderman Labsir also praised the event, emphasizing his support for initiatives that originate from the community itself. He noted that events like Canal Pride are "urgently needed," referencing "the events in Berlin" as a testament to their importance.

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And he said: with great pleasure. So he can't go back anymore.

Plans for the second edition are already underway to make it bigger than the first. The Haverwerf location proved to be at its capacity, with organizers noting it was a close call from having to close off the area due to the crowd size. They are now exploring alternative locations and considering the addition of food trucks. While aiming for growth, inspired by the larger Antwerp Pride, the organizers intend to keep the event intimate and "cozy," a characteristic many attendees appreciated about the first edition. They want to avoid the overwhelming scale of events like Amsterdam Pride, where attendees often need to arrive hours in advance.

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This was a very beautiful event. All the more because it came entirely from the organization itself, which we gladly support. And the events in Berlin also prove that events like these are urgently needed.