Rising discrimination highlights need for safe spaces during Pride Amsterdam

The violent attack on a visitor at Pride Amersfoort has highlighted the importance of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people during events, according to the organisation Report it, Always (RITA). During WorldPride Amsterdam, there will be 35 dedicated safe spaces, and the city will give priority to cases of discrimination and violence to protect the community.

Attack at Pride Amersfoort spotlights rise in anti-LGBTQ+ violence

During the night on Friday, July 10, a man who had attended Pride Amersfoort was seriously assaulted by multiple boys on fatbikes. It is believed the man was pulled from his bike on his way home in the direction of Leusden.

The police found the man after a report came in at 3am on Saturday, reports AD. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Any witnesses or people with information are urged to come forward. Camera footage could also help with the investigation.

This was not the only incident that occurred during Pride Amersfoort. RITA, the LGBTQ+ reporting platform, received up to 40 reports surrounding the event in Amersfoort. However, according to the organisation, the violent attack underscores how necessary safe spaces are for the community. 

Safe spaces available at Dutch Pride events

Anyone who is harassed during WorldPride Amsterdam can go to one of 35 dedicated safe spaces, such as the Stedelijk Museum, De Nieuwe Kerk or the city archives. These locations are meant to be a safe haven for people attending the event to find support, such as help contacting the police. 

According to RITA co-founder Jerrald Justin, the aim is to establish a network of these safe spaces throughout the Netherlands, believing that they are “not a nice perk, but a necessity”.

Earlier this year, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema also announced that there are agreements in place between the police, law enforcement and Pride organisers to give victims of violence or discrimination during the event priority and respond quickly to incidents. 

WorldPride is taking place in Amsterdam this year, as the Netherlands celebrates 25 years since marriage between same-sex couples became legal. The event will take place from July 25 to August 8. 

Increasing discrimination against LGBTQ+ community

RITA first started in 2024 and has seen significant growth in the years since. Before the reporting platform existed, willingness to report incidents of discrimination, exclusion and violence towards LGBTQ+ people was low but has increased since RITA’s launch.

In 2025, almost 900 reports of discrimination were received thanks to RITA, including incidents where gay, lesbian or trans people were verbally abused, shouted at, hit, pushed or kicked. "We are now receiving reports from all over the country every day. It is somewhat sad that RITA is successful, but it is important to illustrate the magnitude of the problem and to show the places where people are often harassed," Justin told NOS.

The success of RITA goes to show how LGBTQ+ acceptance is declining in the Netherlands, particularly in Amsterdam, reports NRC. For example, the 2023 Youth Health Monitor in the capital showed that just 43 percent of young people aged 13 to 16 consider it normal for there to be a same-sex couple - down from 63 percent in 2021.

The reason behind this increase in discrimination is a “complex interplay of factors”. “There are multiple factors, such as educational path, religion, gender identity, and environment, that together determine how young people think about LGBTI acceptance,” said LGBTQ+ researcher Nikki Dekker. 

Social media use and the rise of the manosphere could also be playing a role. The manosphere refers to groups of young men online who glorify traditional gender roles. Research into this topic is currently underway, with results expected next year.

According to Justin, events like WorldPride are now more important than ever. The visibility of the LGBTQ+ community during these events can play a key role in acceptance. “The more often young people come into contact with the community, the more normal they find it,” states Dekker. “Coming into contact with expressions like Pride can therefore have positive effects on their views, as our research shows.”