Mechelen Celebrates First Canal Pride on the Water
The city of Mechelen made history on Saturday, 25 July 2026, by hosting Belgium’s first-ever Canal Pride — a vibrant waterborne parade of two party boats and a dozen decorated kayaks sailing along the Binnendijle river. Organized by the LGBTQ+ grassroots group HLWM (Homo- en Lesbiënnewerking Mechelen) in partnership with the city, the event drew approximately 140 participants on the water and a crowd so large that the Haverwerf square had to be temporarily closed for safety, as reported by VRT NWS.
A Historic First on Water
The parade departed at 14:00 from the Haverwerf, winding through Mechelen’s historic center along the Keerdok and Kruidtuin before returning to its starting point 90 minutes later. DJ Cats provided music on land, and the celebration continued with a Queer Party on the Haverwerf before moving to HLWM’s regular meeting place, Babbelkroeg, for an afterparty from 19:00.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the turnout exceeded all expectations. Organizer Vincent De Coninck described the atmosphere as “a fun, cozy day with only love and cheerfulness.” He told HLN: “I saw only smiling faces today. My heart is full of love. And I mean it — I’m a bit emotional about it myself. It was a remarkable success.”
Community Spirit and Inclusivity
The event drew a diverse cross-section of participants. Dirk, a Mechelen resident of 28 years who attended with his husband of 55 years, told VRT NWS: “I’m not much of a Pride person, but we’ve been living in Mechelen for 28 years, a city with a lot of diversity and great freedom. Not participating was not an option.”
Three friends from Antwerp — Ils, Els, and Nora — paddled one of the kayaks, carrying banners they had prepared for the occasion. Ils emphasized to HLN the importance of remembering the movement’s activist roots: “The LGBTQ+ community took to the streets back then to fight for their rights, and we must continue doing this.”
Mirjam Sips, the Bellemadam (city ambassador) of Mechelen, addressed the crowd with a message of unity. “It’s important that we love each other,” she said. “Hopefully this is the first of many more Canal Prides to come. The LGBTQ+ community is here, and that’s formidable. I’m proud of my city.”
A Local Initiative with International Significance
In a preview published on 13 July, the organizers laid out their vision for the event. City Councilor for Living Together Abdrahman Labsir told Het Laatste Nieuws that “Mechelen is known for human rights. It’s a local initiative with an international statement.”
HLWM chairman Koen Nijs reflected on how much has changed in three decades. “Thirty years ago, I went to Prides in Brussels; there you really had to fight for rights we didn’t have,” he told HLN. “This is completely different. This is a positive story of inclusivity, pride, and gratitude toward other communities for accepting us as we are.”
The organizers deliberately kept the first edition small — with 140 spots on the water — to establish a sustainable tradition. “We’re keeping it small for the first edition so that a beautiful tradition can grow out of it,” De Coninck explained.
What’s Next?
Belgium has long been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights, having legalized same-sex marriage in 2003 and adoption rights in 2006. Mechelen’s Canal Pride adds a new dimension to that legacy, inspired by the famous Amsterdam Canal Parade but adapted to the intimate scale of a smaller Belgian city.
The success of the first edition has already sparked talk of a sequel. “I’m not the only one who decides this, but I think I can say there will be a second edition,” De Coninck told HLN. “And if there is one, it might need to be bigger.”
Participants hinted that the concept could spread to other waterways. “Why not on the Schelde or the Leie?” laughed Ils, suggesting that cities like Antwerp, Ghent, or Bruges might follow Mechelen’s lead. For now, however, the focus remains on nurturing Mechelen’s newly established tradition — one that proved, in the words of one organizer, that the city was “clearly ready for this.”