The Walk of Pride celebrates people who have had a lasting impact on LGBTQIA+ emancipation. The monument commemorates their fight and brings to light the strength, courage, and resilience of “queer” people worldwide. The Walk of Pride is a gift to the city of Amsterdam in celebration of World Pride 2026.

Jillis Bruggeman, a merchant from Waddinxveen, was the last person in the Netherlands to be convicted and sentenced to death for sodomy or sexual acts with someone of the same sex. He was executed in Schiedam.

Gesina Dekker left her husband, choosing for physical intimacy with other women. She was one of four women who were convicted of “indecent acts” and was sentenced to six years in Amsterdam’s Spinhuis, a house of correction for women.

Enslaved and brought to Brazil, Xica Manicongo refused to bend to colonial oppression and renounce her origin and identity. The Inquisition in Brazil convicted the gender-nonconforming Manicongo of sodomy and witchcraft.

As “the Father of the LGBTQ+ movement” in Uganda, David Kato worked tirelessly for legal protection for the LGBTQ+ community in his country in the face of ongoing violent attacks. He was beaten to death for his advocacy.

A courageous advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Sierra Leone and throughout Africa, FannyAnn Eddy denounced the unpunished violence towards the LGBTQ+ community in her country on the international stage but ultimately fell victim to it.

Xulhaz Mannan was the founder of the only LGBTQ magazine in Bangladesh, where homosexuality is illegal. Until his violent death, Mannan passionately advocated for an inclusive acceptance of love in its many manifestations.

After publicly displaying a rainbow flag in Cairo, Egyptian activist Sarah Hegazi was arrested and tortured. Hegazi wrote about the need for united resistance against oppressive systems and norms.

Bicultural Saïd Zankoua, from Utrecht, was a beloved figure in the Amsterdam gay scene and admired for his warmth, strength, and support. Despite the violence and the resulting epileptic seizures he suffered, he remained resilient.

In 1912, Dutch nobleman Jacob Anton Schorer founded the Netherlands’ first organization to confront the prevailing discrimination against homosexuals. It also sought to promote knowledge about sexuality, gender, and sex diversity.

German educator Emma Trosse was the first woman to write a scientific work on sexual diversity. It was in that work that she also addressed the existence of asexuality. She identified as asexual herself.

American scientist Alfred Kinsey was famous for his research on human sexuality. He argued that sexuality is not binary and fixed but that there are gradations between “exclusively heterosexual” and “exclusively homosexual.”

Annemarie Grewel, an influential Amsterdam thinker, politician, and civic leader, pushed for a “gay/lesbian studies” program at the University of Amsterdam. With her self-chosen death, she remained an activist until the end.

Psychologist Stelly Hoeben was actively involved in founding Gaotika and the Lesbian Archives in Nijmegen. With her presence in both institutions, she was a driving force behind lesbian and women’s emancipation in Nijmegen.

South African political activist and feminist Tania Leon was instrumental in founding several Dutch organizations that were dedicated to the equality and emancipation of women in general and of Black lesbian women in particular.

Inge Intven fought to abolish the Dutch confidentiality protocol for intersex people. After this abolition came into effect in 2003, doctors could no longer conceal an intersex status from their patients.

As a writer, translator, and activist, Titia van der Tuuk, a feminist freethinker from Groningen, played a special and decisive role in promoting both a healthy lifestyle and especially equal rights for women and homosexuals.

In 1946, Niek Engelschman, a member of the resistance, founded the COC, the world’s oldest still-operating organization for the rainbow community. He aimed to unify the community and promote social dialogue on sexual diversity.

Under the leadership of Mary Zeldenrust Noordanus, the Dutch Society for Sexual Reform (NVSH) played a vital role in promoting the acceptance of sexual diversity and equal rights for sexual minorities. 

The Surinamese virtuoso of language and social critic Edgar Caïro discovered in words the ultimate freedom of self-definition. As a student in 1969, Caïro took part in the first demonstration for “gay rights” in the Netherlands.

Max Lievendag co-founded the first Dutch organization for Black LGBTQ+ people, particularly those with a Surinamese background. He was committed to LGBTQ+ emancipation in both the Netherlands and Suriname.

Aaïcha Bergamin fought hard for medical and legal confirmation of her identity as a trans woman. A renowned and notorious sex worker and brothel owner in Amsterdam, she bravely stood her ground against police violence.

Transgender pioneer, writer, and artist Dirkje Kuik is an important historical figure for the city of Utrecht. In 1985, she secured the right for people in the Netherlands to change their legal gender and name.

Many Rotterdammers have fond memories of Janine Wegman, an extravagant street performer. Being trans and intersex, Janine had to fight hard for legal recognition as a woman. She remained a lifelong advocate for transgender rights.

Transgender rights activist and sex worker Bessy Ferrera is remembered for her lifelong commitment to and support for LGBTQIA+ people with HIV, sex workers and victims of transphobic and homophobic violence in Honduras.

New Zealand Māori politician Georgina Beyer was the world’s first openly trans mayor and later also member of parliament. She sought justice for Māoris as well as equal rights for sex workers and LGBTQIA+ people.

Transgender pioneer Rik Henning offered up his privacy in 1971 when he became the first transgender person to tell his story on Dutch television. Henning was the first trans man in the Netherlands to receive a valid gender registration.

Forced to hide as a Jew during the War, Benno Premsela later refused to hide his sexuality. As chair of the COC in 1964, he was the first to openly discuss the organization’s activism on Dutch TV, opening up the public discourse on sexual diversity.

Albert Mol paved the way for the social acceptance of homosexuality through his visibility as the first openly gay television personality in the Netherlands. As an actor and comedian, Mol lived for the stage.

As one of Europe’s pioneering leatherwear craftsmen, Rob Meijer sought to promote the visibility and social acceptance of the gay leather, fetish and BDSM communities with his RoB Amsterdam store and gallery.

Rotterdam writer and dramatist Anna Blaman became a household name by writing candidly about her own life as a lesbian. In doing so, she made a major contribution to Dutch literature and lesbian emancipation in the Netherlands.

Contrarian Jewish feminist, polemicist, novelist, and criminologist Andreas Burnier rejected the prevailing gender norms. Burnier’s literary work remains of lasting importance to lesbian, transgender, and gender-diverse people.

From an early age, Audre Lorde wrote about things that touched her personally: social injustice, her Black, Caribbean, and lesbian identity, and her battle with cancer. Her personality and poetry have inspired Black women worldwide.

Radical activist and “provo” Betty Paërl was a taboo-breaking University of Amsterdam teacher, writer, dominatrix, and transgender rights activist. She fought for decolonization and sexual freedom and criticized the prevailing gender norms.

American bisexual-rights activist Brenda Howard fought for bi visibility in LGBTQ+ movements. She also advocated for the welfare of the polyamorous, BDSM and leather communities and of people with HIV/AIDS.

In 2016, Marielle Franco became both the first bisexual woman and the first Black woman to be elected to Rio de Janeiro’s city council. In that role, she advocated for laws against gender violence and for social equality.

Miriam van der Have, a pioneer in the fight for intersex human rights and emancipation, both in the Netherlands and internationally, was among the first to appear openly as an intersex person on Dutch television (2003).

In her memoirs, French author Herculine Barbin described her experiences as an intersex person. The story of her life, death, and legacy remain fundamental to the intersex movement in its fight against stigmatization.

Intersex activist Bo Laurent founded the world’s first non-medical intersex organization that addressed human rights violations in healthcare. She helped organize the first intersex human rights demonstration.

In the early 1960s, Alje Klamer, a Dutch Reformed radio pastor from Hilversum, broke a major taboo in religious circles during his broadcasts by strongly advocating for the support, care, and recognition of homosexuals.

Chinese-Indonesian Protestant theologian and pastor Stephen Suleeman proclaimed that God embraces gender and sexual diversity. He was a great advocate for LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights in Indonesia.

South African religious leader Muhsin Hendricks offered LGBTQIA+ Muslims worldwide a community and a safe place. Hendricks enjoyed international renown for his pioneering role in unifying faith and sexual and gender diversity.

Spiritual mentor, Muslim woman, and human rights activist Shinta Ratri fought for the right for transgender people to exist and for their religious freedom. She founded the first boarding school in Indonesia for transgender Muslim women.

Marsha P. Johnson was a leading figure in the Stonewall uprising in 1969. She dedicated her life to resisting oppression. For homeless queer and trans youth, sex workers, and drag performers, she was—and still is—a mother figure.

Thea Wickel helped establish the first Dutch meeting place for gender-diverse people in 1970. She spent the rest of her working life as a civic leader, host, supporter, and advocate for the interests of gender-diverse people.

Riek Stienstra was the driving force behind an organization that focused on LGBTQ+ health in Amsterdam and included a buddy-care program for people with HIV/AIDS. Her priorities were inclusive care, social acceptance, and social support.

LGBTQ+ and HIV activist Mikel Haman was regarded as a colorful bridgebuilder. He campaigned against conversion therapy and was one of the co-initiators of Pink Sunday during the annual Kwaku Summer Festival in Amsterdam.

German-born living work-of-art phenomenon Fabiola was a beloved figure within Amsterdam’s gay, squatter and art communities. A colorful activist, Fabiola graced many demonstrations and manifestations in Amsterdam.

Curaçao-born artist Nelson Debrot raised awareness about gender and sexuality within the Antillean community in the Netherlands. His “Freedom Birds” ensemble was an icon of the annual Rotterdam Summer Carnival.

In 1981, Maureen Tardjopawiro brought together in the Netherlands a group of women with a Surinamese background who loved women. She lovingly helped this community bond by organizing a variety of activities.

Oguz Acer was an impassioned Turkish-Dutch LGBTQ+ activist in Amsterdam who aimed to connect and inspire the queer community of color. In breaking taboos, he opened up the conversation about multiple discrimination.

Run by the eccentric Bet van Beeren, also known as “Queen of the Zeedijk,” the early 20th-century Amsterdam café ’t Mandje grew into a sanctuary where everyone was welcome and could be themselves and express their love freely.

As members of the resistance, lesbian classical musician Frieda Belinfante and gay artist Willem Arondéus helped plan and carry out a daring attack on Amsterdam’s civil registry, thwarting Nazi efforts to track people down.

As members of the resistance, lesbian classical musician Frieda Belinfante and gay artist Willem Arondéus helped plan and carry out a daring attack on Amsterdam’s civil registry, thwarting Nazi efforts to track people down.