AMSTERDAM EUROPRIDE
1994 In 1991 it was decided in the UK that, every year, a different European city would be tasked with organising and hosting the EuroPride event. As the ‘founding cities’ of EuroPride, London, Berlin and Amsterdam would start the ball rolling: London in 1992, Berlin in 1993 and Amsterdam in 1994. That decision laid the foundations for EPOA, the European Pride Organizers Association. The mission of EPOA is to promote knowledge-sharing among Gay Pride
In June 1993, to promote the Amsterdam edition of EuroPride in 1994, a bus carrying a motley crew of artistes, transvestites, DJs and further entourage left for Berlin to participate in the EuroPride parade and stage performances.
organisers in Europe and to support small,
The organisation was nowhere near as tight
emerging gay communities which are taking
as it is now. We didn’t have our first meeting
their first steps towards organising a Gay
with the municipal services until a few weeks
Pride in their own city or country. EPOA
before the start of the ten-day event. That
now boasts thirty-three European members
included the fire service and the police.
who meet annually to decide who will host
Safety and nuisance were scarcely an issue
the next EuroPride.
then. The prospect of all tramlines bar one being blocked by our parade was a much
In 1994, for Amsterdam, which was already
bigger problem. They tried to make us take a
preparing the fifteenth Pink Saturday,
different – far less visible – route, but thanks
hosting EuroPride was the icing on the cake.
to the efforts of the councillor, we were able
Organising a big event like this was pretty
to walk our preferred route via Raadhuisstraat.
much uncharted territory for Amsterdam at
On the big day itself one anti-riot vehicle
that time. The municipal council had no idea
was on standby and a few stray policemen
what to expect, and we were more or less
were dotted on and around Dam Square.
blazing a trail. This all happened before the
There were no municipal protocols, and many
advent of internet and computers, so we were
incidents were dealt
delighted with a fax machine sponsored by
with on the spot. Things have changed a
Minolta in 1992, which helped enormously
lot since then.
to professionalise our own organisation.
Hans Verhoeven Organisor of EuroPride Amsterdam 1994
Magazine EuroPride 1994
EuroPride Amsterdam was a resounding
The European Pride Organizers Association
local and national pride organizations in
success, with more than 300 activities taking
(EPOA) is a network of European gay, lesbian,
their efforts of planning and promoting pride
place over ten days at around fifty different
bisexual, transgender Pride Organizations.
celebrations. EPOA also wants to facilitate
locations. On Pink Saturday, 25 June 1994,
EPOA was founded 1991 in London. EPOA
networking and skill sharing among members.
80,000 people, accompanied by twelve
holds the rights to the title EuroPride. The
One of the means of doing this is the annual
huge, richly decorated floats, marched from
purpose of EPOA is to promote lesbian, gay,
conference. EPOA also grants the license of
Dam Square to Museumplein where, joined
bisexual and transgender pride on a pan-
“EuroPride” to a different member each year.
by 120,000 visitors, they were entertained
European level and to empower and support
Everything was new, but thanks to the indefatigable efforts of over 1400 volunteers,
by a glittering array of artistes from the Netherlands and abroad, including The Weather Girls, Boy George and Jimmy Somerville. 22 EuroPride 2016