Pride security tightened across the city after Berlin attack

Amsterdam is not pretending that Pride weekend is business as usual. Security around the city's biggest queer celebration has been visibly tightened, and the people who run its nightlife are saying so plainly. The city has stepped up security around WorldPride street parties and the annual canal parade, following last week's attack in Berlin. A total of 250 concrete blocks have been placed along the canals, and nightclubs are carrying out extra bag searches during the two-week event, which runs until 8 August. In Berlin last Sunday, a woman was killed and 29 people were injured when a man drove a car into a crowd near the Brandenburg Gate, where the Christopher Street Day parade, Germany's main Pride event, was taking place. The suspect was later shot dead by police, who have said they are treating the incident as an Islamist terrorist attack. Richard Keldoulis of Club Church, one of Amsterdam's best-known gay clubs, told NOS he had never known anything like this. A Berlin native, he said he was at the scene and left the party minutes before the attack. Venue owners are in constant contact with the police and intelligence services, though they concede it is almost impossible to prevent a "lone wolf" attack by one person using a knife or a vehicle. Michel Peters, chair of the gay police association Roze in Blauw, said officers would keep a high-visibility presence over the weekend, mainly to stay in contact with the LGBTQI+ community. On Tuesday evening, thousands gathered at the Homomonument to remember the victims of Berlin, where Mayor Femke Halsema called for courage and resilience. For Vibra, this is a reminder of what a night out depends on: venues that look after their guests and a community that looks out for one another. Vibra is built for LGBTQ+ nightlife in Amsterdam, from tickets to the Pulse points you earn by showing up for the venues and events you love, and we will keep backing the places that keep this community safe. Source: DutchNews.nl, 31 July 2026