Mechelen to Host 'Canal Pride' on the Water with Party Boats and Drag Queens

Mechelen is set to make history by hosting the city's first Canal Pride on the Dijle river at the end of July, offering a unique celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community.

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We, along with the city, have long advocated for an LGBTQIA+ pride in Mechelen.

Vincent De Coninck of HLWM, the local gay and lesbian organization, announced that the event will feature two decorated party boats and 18 canoes navigating the Dijle through the city center. "We, along with the city, have long advocated for an LGBTQIA+ pride in Mechelen," De Coninck stated. "There are walking parades and prides with trucks, but one of our members, who lives along the Dijle, came up with the idea of a pride on the water, similar to Amsterdam."

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There are walking parades and prides with trucks, but it was one of our members who came up with the idea of a pride on the water, like in Amsterdam.

The Canal Pride is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, and will accommodate a maximum of 140 participants. The two party boats, provided by Malinska shipping company, will offer music and a drag queen performance, with each boat holding up to 35 people. The 18 canoes will also be part of the procession. Tickets for participation on the boats cost 10 euros per person.

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There will be music and a drag queen who will dance.

De Coninck acknowledged that the Mechelen event will be smaller in scale compared to the established Canal Prides in Amsterdam or Utrecht, but emphasized the intention to create a "small but fine" celebration. This initiative marks a significant step for LGBTQIA+ visibility and celebration in Mechelen.

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We are starting small but fine. The comparison with the Canal Pride in Amsterdam or Utrecht is difficult to make in terms of size.