It’s summer so it’s time for Antwerp Pride and Antwerp Queer Arts Festival (AQAF). From 4 to 27 August 2023, AQAF hosts queer artists being queer, in the alternative, quirky, more rebellious sense of the word. Antwerp Pride, from 9 to 13 August, is more mainstream, openly catering to everyone and thus attracting a general, more mainstream LGBTQIA+ and allied public. This year’s pride theme is ‘Braveolution‘.

The itinerary for the 2023 Antwerp Pride Parade on Saturday 12 August is similar to the 2022 Antwerp Pride Parade route, but not exactly the same. The 2022 parcours was similar to the 2019 Antwerp Pride Parade itinerary, which was a break with the 2018 edition. Obviously there were no parades in 2020 and 2021.

Convening at Sint-Jansplein

Participants are expected from noon at Sint-Jansplein. The parade will start properly at Paardenmarkt, just across the Italiëlei. So this is a shortening of the route, if you will.  

The parade will set off at 2 PM (14:00) and take right turn onto Hessenbrug, go along Hessenplein and take a left on the Oude Leeuwenrui – Brouwersvliet axis. At the end of Brouwersvliet the procession will take a left turn onto the Scheldt Quays, more precisely the Orteliuskaai. 

At Sint-Jansvliet, which is the square known for its basketball court and the entrance to the Sint-Annavoetgangerstunnel or St. Anne’s Pedestrian Tunnel, the procession turns left and then a right turn onto Oever. 

Oever flows into Kloosterstraat. Near the end of Kloosterstraat there is the statue of czar Peter The Great “under whose reign Russia was still tolerant towards homosexuality”, Antwerp Pride says. 

Contrary to last year, the parade avoids the Riemstraat but keeps on Kloosterstraat to take a right onto Scheldestraat. At the end is the Scheldt at Cockerillkaai. Cockerillkaai  – and Ledeganckkaai – where the Love United Festival functions as afterparty to the parade. 

Timing

The parade starts at 2 PM (14:00) and is expected to arrive at Cockerillkaai at 4 PM (16:00). Two hours for 3.8 km or 2.36 miles? I walked the route in 50 minutes but such a parade procession is very slow. 

Heat!

“But what if there’s another heatwave?! No problem, we’ve thought ahead!”, Antwerp Pride says. 

“Along the entire route of the parade, through the support of our partner Waterlink, there will be freely available waterpoint to top up your bottle and stay hydrated.

The exact location of these points can also be found on our map. Shade can be found alongside the parade route, especially at the Oude Leeuwenrui, Brouwersvliet and the Kloosterstraat. But be sure to bring your refillable bottle, a cap and sunscreen!”

The organisation also asks to spread out and not only go to the Scheldt Quays. 

Natalia and Antwerp Pride launch anthem ‘Shalala Dingdong’

Natalia‘s latest single ‘Shalala Dingdong‘ was released on Thursday 20 July, which will immediately become the official anthem for the sixteenth edition of Antwerp Pride. Natalia will also perform the song live on the Antwerp Pride truck during the parade.

“She is one of the most celebrated pop singers in our country and is as much known for her hit singles as for her warm personality, but this year she will also be the queen of the Antwerp Pride Parade” Antwerp Pride says.

Natalia will perform the song live from the Antwerp Pride truck during the big parade.

Unlike in previous years, the Antwerp Pride truck will be the last in the parade to invite everyone to the festival.

Written by Bart Peeters, ‘Shalala Dingdong ‘is a cheerful splashing pop song but with a message about empowerment and a better world where love is love. The song is on her latest album ‘Hallelujah to the Beat‘.

“Throughout my career, I’ve had a lot of support from the LGBTQIA+ community”, Natalia says of the song. “It is therefore with great pride that I can announce that ‘Shalala Dingdong’ will be the official anthem of the Antwerp Pride 2023.”

“The text is crystal clear. I think it’s crazy that the right to be yourself can still be an issue in this day and age, but unfortunately it is. I will scream this song into the hall with heart and soul at all my concerts.’

“It is a huge honor for us that Natalia is borrowing one of her latest songs as an Antwerp Pride anthem”, Wilfried Eetezonne, spokesperson for Antwerp Pride, responds.

“It’s a cheerful pop song that you can’t sit still, but the lyrics are not without obligation and have a clear message for a future that can only be inclusive. Pride also remains a protest with a festive bow and this song fits in perfectly.”

You can listen to ‘Shalala Dingdong’ here.

Antwerp Pride 2023 & Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2023

• Antwerp Pride 2023 theme, programme and schedule highlights.
• BEYOND ANTWERP PRIDE | Discussing, educating, empowering and protesting for recognition of LGBTQIA+ people.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2023 | WE Fashion and OUTtv provide safe change / fitting rooms for going to the pride parade.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2023 | Holding hands for visibility on Sunday 13 August.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2023 | Eurovision’s Gustaph to perform at Closing Festival on Sunday 13 August.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2023 | Opening Night concert & party at OLT Rivierenhof.
• 4-27 AUGUST | Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2023 programme and schedule.
• 2023 Antwerp Pride Parade route includes Kloosterstraat and a hello to czar Peter the Great.
• Antwerp Pride 2023 Festival at Cockerillkaai.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 9-13 AUGUST 2023 ‘BRAVEOLUTION’ | Make Antwerp a brave and safe.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2023 | ‘Braveolution’ to Brave Space Antwerp.
• Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2023 seeks contributors.
• ANTWERP PRIDE | Geert Van Praet succeeds retiring chairperson Bart Abeel.
• PHOTOS | Antwerp Pride 2023 from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 August.

Darklands 2023-2024

• Darklands 2024 from 27 February to 4 March.
• ANTWERP | Darklands 2024 going into ‘The Void’ under new, stricter city rules.
• “Darklands: The Hotel was an idea of A-Stay”.
• DARKLANDS 2023 | Programme and schedule.
• DARKLANDS 2023 | A-Stay to become official Darklands: The Hotel.
• Darklands 2023 from Tuesday 7 to Tuesday 14 March in Antwerp.
• Darklands 2023 to and from Deep Space.

Queer Antwerp

• Antwerp Pride, Jeffrey’s, Marie Antoinette, Armand Everaert win 2023 Touristico Gaylive Awards.
• ANTWERP | LGBTQIA+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen stops.
• Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Borgerhout.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Berchem.
• City chronicle ‘De kleur van de stad maakt mijn ziel amoureus’ recounts Queer Antwerp history.
• ‘Masculinities: Liberation through Photography’ exhibition at FOMU, Antwerp’s photography museum.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQI+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen wins Çavaria Media Award.
• PHOTOS | Rainbows lit Antwerp.
• Flemish LGBTQI+ press support rainbow community in Ukraine.
• ALLEMAAL ANTWERPENAAR | Antwerp launches campaign to motivate citizens to stand up against discrimination and intimidation.
• Borgerhout flies intersex inclusive Rainbow Progress Pride Flag for IDAHOT.