Thousands of people are expected to gather in the Dutch seaside town of Noordwijk in the province of South Holland on 27 June for the 2026 edition of Roze Zaterdag (Pink Saturday), the Netherlands‘ longest-running LGBTQIA+ event. Organisers say the event will mark a historic first, as Roze Zaterdag is being hosted by a coastal municipality for the first time in its history.
Held under the theme ‘Be Yourself‘, the event aims to promote visibility, acceptance, inclusion and the freedom for people to live openly as themselves. Organisers expect visitors from across the Netherlands to take part in a day of celebrations, performances, community activities and public gatherings.
Roze Zaterdag has been a fixture of Dutch LGBTQIA+ life for decades. Each year, a different municipality hosts the event, helping to spread its message of diversity, equality and social inclusion across the country. According to organisers, Noordwijk’s location on the North Sea coast provides a fitting backdrop, symbolising freedom, openness and connection.
The organising committee said the sea has long attracted people seeking space and freedom, making Noordwijk a natural setting for the event. It added that the town would offer a place where everyone can be themselves.
Organisers said the ‘Be Yourself’ theme is intended as an invitation to all members of society, regardless of age, background or sexual orientation. They stressed that the event is not only for LGBTQ+ people, but for everyone who believes in a society where individuals can live authentically and treat one another with respect.
At a time when social divisions are often emphasised, organisers said they wanted the event to focus on what unites people rather than what separates them. They described the goal as creating a day where people can meet, inspire one another and celebrate their identities, while demonstrating that connection is stronger than division.
The programme on 27 June will include live music, performances, information stands and community activities along Noordwijk’s seafront, with events centred around the town’s boulevard. Admission will be free.
Linda Janmaat, chair and founder of Roze Zaterdag Noordwijk 2026, said she was proud to welcome visitors to what she described as a unique edition of the event. She noted that, unlike previous editions often held in larger cities, Noordwijk would offer a more intimate atmosphere characterised by warmth, personal attention and meaningful encounters.
Janmaat said the event was about humanity, visibility and appreciation for people as they are, regardless of whom they love or how they express themselves. She added that the celebration would highlight diversity, inclusion and the principle that “love is love”, while placing a strong emphasis on community and connection.
According to Janmaat, Noordwijk – often promoted as ‘The Beach of Amsterdam‘ – is already bringing together residents, businesses, community organisations, young people, older generations and members of the queer community in the run-up to the event. She described Roze Zaterdag not simply as a single day, but as an ongoing journey that is building connections across the town and beyond.
Organisers hope that on 27 June visitors will come together to celebrate pride, freedom and solidarity by the sea under the event’s slogan: “Be Yourself. Be Proud. Be Connected.”
Further information is available on Roze Zaterdag Noordwijk 2026.
