Once upon a time Jeroen Van Lievenoogen started a kink and fetish festival called LeatherPride Belgium. That became Leather & Fetish Pride Belgium, and then Darklands, which was initially used to name the daytime activities. In 2026 the festival was rebranded Beyond Darklands. In 2027, Beyond Darklands will take place from Tuesday 16 to Monday…
Tag: Gay
Belgium slips to 4th in European LGBTQIA+ rights ranking: stagnation and unaddressed gaps
Belgium has dropped from second to fourth place on the Rainbow Map & Index 2026, ILGA Europe’s annual ranking of LGBTQIA+ rights across the continent. The ranking, published on 12 May 2026, reveals a troubling trend: while Belgium has long been regarded as a pioneer in LGBTQIA+ rights, its failure to address critical gaps has…
RAINBOW EUROPE MAP AND INDEX 2026 | Spain breaks Malta’s decade-long hold on Europe’s LGBTQIA+ rights top spot
As the rules-based international order fractures and democracy is under pressure from east and west, Spain‘s top ranking in ILGA-Europe‘s Rainbow Map of 49 countries on LGBTI human rights laws and policies stands as proof that political courage remains the most powerful answer. Belgium retains its score of 85% but falls to forth in the ranking,…
GERMANY | Introducing Cologne
November and December 2017. During my solo trip to Taiwan – the vacation which was a catalyst to start Trip By Trip – I met Ugo. Fast forward to August 2025. Ugo is touring Europe and we decided to meet up. Showing him Antwerp was an option, but fitting the metropolis into his itinerary was…
UPDATE | NMBS / SNCB presents new rainbow-clad Siemens Desiro for IDAHOT and Pride
On Instagram, NMBS / SNCB showed of a new rainbow-clad Siemens Desiro for Brussels Pride and for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, aka IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT.
10 things to do at your next Gran Canaria visit
This weekend the Maspalomas Pride Parade 2026 culminates with the parade in Playa del Inglés. Many LGBT tourists will be locking themselves up in the gay bars of Yumbo Shopping Centre. But why not enjoy the entire island on your next visit? I rented a car, traveled the island and experienced first-hand ten things that…
COLOGNE | Belgisches Viertel or Belgian Quarter
November and December 2017. During my solo trip to Taiwan – the vacation which was a catalyst to start Trip By Trip – I met Ugo. Fast forward to August 2025. Ugo is touring Europe and we decided to meet up. Showing him Antwerp was an option, but fitting the metropolis into his itinerary was…
Brussels Pride 2026 marks 30 years of struggle, visibility, and celebration
Brussels “will shine brighter than ever” on Saturday 16 May 2026, as the city celebrates the 30th anniversary of Brussels Pride. This milestone edition, organised under the powerful theme ‘When times get darker, we shine brighter‘, is expected to draw around 200,000 people to the capital of Belgium.
Belarus adopts sweeping anti-gay information law, joining global crackdown on queer rights, criminalises “promotion” of homosexuality, gender transition, and childlessness
Belarus has adopted a controversial law banning the “propaganda” of consensual same-sex relationships, gender reassignment, and voluntary childlessness, aligning itself with a growing number of nations that criminalise discussions and positive portrayals of LGBTQIA+ identities.
NETHERLANDS | Purple Friday to move to the second Friday of October from 2026
From 2026 onwards, Dutch LGBTQIA+ organisation COC Nederland, in consultation with schools, will move Purple Friday (Paarse Vrijdag) to the beginning of the school year. The annual day of solidarity with LGBTQIA+ students will now take place on the second Friday of October, instead of in December.