Move

Antwerp launches Rainbow Routes in lead-up to Antwerp Pride 2025

Posted by Timothy on

The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme is “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focuses on belonging. Belonging to the society at large – the ‘outside world’ – but also belonging within the rainbow realm. 

Next week, the 18th edition of Antwerp Pride kicks off. Over the next few weeks, Antwerp will be bathed in rainbow colours everywhere. The rainbow will be visible on various buildings, in streets, and on shared bike system Velo. 

Just like in 2024 and 2018, several locations will also be illuminated in rainbow colors. The City of Antwerp‘s sporting and exercise brand Sporting A has developed several ‘Rainbow Routes‘ that will guide people past these illuminated buildings and locations throughout the city.

The 18th edition of Antwerp Pride will take place from August 6 to 10. Every year, the rainbow flag can be seen everywhere in the city around this time, such as at the district offices and the Scheldt Quays. 

The pride flag will also be displayed on the Meir and the shopping streets around Kammenstraat, Kloosterstraat, and Wilde Zee. In addition, 700 Velo shared bikes will be riding around with rainbow flag stickers.​ ​ ​

Rainbow lighting

Just like last year, various locations in the city will be bathed in rainbow lights in the coming weeks. The existing lighting of buildings, squares, and parks will be illuminated in rainbow colors starting today and tomorrow.

Acting Mayor Koen Kennis (N-VA): “Pride in Antwerp is an annual tradition and a statement: we are a proud and free city where everyone can be themselves all year round. A city where we treat each other with respect and tolerance. There is truly no place for discrimination in the city. We are conveying this message again by dressing various iconic buildings in rainbow colors, with real rainbow routes and pimped-up Velokes.”

Among others, the Opera House, Antwerp-Central Railway Station (pictured), Het Steen, DIVA, the Scheldt Quays, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the Harmoniepark, the Zuidpark, the Sint-Paulusplaats, the Wintergang in the Groen Kwartier, the Kattendijkdok, and the square in front of the Museum At the Stream (MAS) will be illuminated in rainbow colours in the coming weeks.​ ​

Rainbow lighting at Antwerp-Central Railway Station.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), the Havenhuis or Harbour House, the Rubens House, the Bourla Theatre, Schouwburg Noord in Merksem, Mundo Antwerp in Borgerhout, and various district offices will also be equipped with rainbow lighting. ​ ​ ​

Rainbow Routes

An overview of the various illuminated locations can be found on this handy map. Sporting A also developed three Roaring Rainbow Routes. These routes allow everyone to walk, run, cycle, or scooter past various Antwerp buildings and locations that have been specially decorated in rainbow colors. Of course, people can also plan their own route.

Most locations will remain illuminated in rainbow colors until 18 August 18th.

Always respond to discrimination

This year’s theme for Antwerp Pride is “Do not just march! Listen. Act. Commit.” With this, the organization wants to call on everyone who cares about the LGBTQIA+ community to consciously commit to protecting the rights the LGBTQIA+ community has gained over the past decades and to take steps towards the future together.

This message aligns with the ‘Allemaal Antwerpenaar‘ (‘All Antwerpians‘) campaign, through which the city, together with its residents, aims to make a difference and build a city where everyone can be themselves, regardless of gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or disability. 

The City therefore calls on everyone to always respond to discrimination. More information about how to respond as a bystander can be found at allemaalantwerpenaar.be.​

Alderwoman for Equal Opportunities Lien Van de Kelder (Vooruit): “You won’t be able to miss the rainbow in our city in the coming weeks. The rainbow lighting is a warm welcome to all Pride visitors, but also a clear statement: in Antwerp, everyone is welcome and we have respect for one another. I’m really looking forward to Pride on August 9th and hope to see more people than ever before. And remember: ‘Do not just march! Listen. Act. Commit.'”

Antwerp Pride kicks off on Wednesday 6 August, with an opening party at OLT Rivierenhof. The full Antwerp Pride program can be found at antwerppride.com.

Antwerp Pride 2025

Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2025

Darklands 2025-2026

The latest on LGBTQIA+ events such as prides in Belgium

16 Comments Add yours

  1. Pingback: 2025 Antwerp Pride Parade Route  – Trip By Trip
  2. Pingback: Antwerp 5th on 2025 Happy City Index – Trip By Trip
  3. Pingback: Café Den Draak kickstarts Antwerp Pride 2025 on 1 August, Draakplaats becomes car-free festival ground for Midsummer 2025 – Trip By Trip
  4. Pingback: ANTWERP PRIDE 2025 | Pride Village during Love United and Closing Festivals – Trip By Trip
  5. Pingback: Open letter and gathering speak up for Palestine on Tuesday 5 August, the eve of Antwerp Pride 2025 – Trip By Trip
  6. Pingback: Antwerp Pride Parade 2025 with 90 delegations, a new starting point and a code of conduct – Trip By Trip
  7. Pingback: Antwerp Pride 2026 from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August – Trip By Trip
  8. Pingback: Antwerp welcomed 300,000 people during 2025 pride weekend – Trip By Trip
  9. Pingback: ANTWERP QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL 2025 | A Night Called Quest, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 August, at De Studio – Trip By Trip
  10. Pingback: ANTWERP | ‘White Ravens of the Resistance’: stories of foreign-born resistance fighters during WWII – Trip By Trip
  11. Pingback: ANTWERP PRIDE – BEYOND PRIDE 2025 | ‘Lost Boys & Fairies’ screening on 25 September, Debate Day on 26 October – Trip By Trip
  12. Pingback: ANTWERP SUMMER 2025 | 2.9 million day-trippers and 552,161 overnight stays – Trip By Trip
  13. Pingback: City of Antwerp opens ‘Garden of Consolation’ at Silsburg Cemetery – Trip By Trip
  14. Pingback: ANTWERP | Queer Walks mark 30 years of Het Roze Huis – Trip By Trip
  15. Pingback: BEYOND DARKLANDS 2026 | Beyond Classic: Fatal Attraction ‘classic meets fetish’ concert at AMUZ, Antwerp, Thursday 5 March – Trip By Trip
  16. Pingback: Beyond Darklands 2026 programme highlights – Trip By Trip

Leave a comment