Articles
COC: A Dutch story of openness and inclusion
Every year, Pride Month brings colourful events to cities across the Netherlands. For many international visitors, these celebrations are often associated with Amsterdam’s canals, rainbow flags and an image of tolerance. But Pride reflects broader values, such as openness, freedom and the belief that everyone should be able to participate fully in public life.
And this year, as Amsterdam prepares to host WorldPride, COC Netherlands marks its 80th anniversary. Founded in 1946, COC is the oldest existing LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisation in the world. Its history reflects how social change in the Netherlands has developed through cooperation between citizens, civil society and public institutions.
A movement that grew within Dutch society.
COC began in Amsterdam shortly after the Second World War, at a time when LGBTQIA+ people had little visibility and acceptance. It started as the Shakespeare Club, a discreet network for people who could not openly live as themselves. Over time, it grew into a national organisation linked to major social changes in Dutch society.
The Netherlands is often seen internationally as progressive, but that progress was gradual. Discrimination based on sexual orientation has been prohibited since 1994, and since 2019 this protection also includes gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics. Earlier milestones include the 1971 reform of discriminatory legislation, marriage equality in 2001, adoption rights in 2009, and improved legal recognition for transgender people in recent years. These changes were not isolated decisions, but the result of long-term dialogue between advocacy groups, lawmakers and society. COC was part of that process throughout.
Education also played an important role. Since 2012, schools are required to address sexual and gender diversity. Today, more than 1000 schools have a Gender and Sexuality Alliance, and around 3000 participate in Paarse Vrijdag, a national day focused on visibility and inclusion. COC volunteers also deliver thousands of educational sessions each year.
This history underlines the meaning of the 80-year anniversary: inclusion is not a fixed achievement, but an ongoing process that requires continuous attention and shared responsibility.
Image
Supporting LGBTQ+ organisations in more than 35 countries and working with global partners on human rights. Image: Bangga di Bali.
Image
Image: Celebrating the 60 years of COC milestone with photographer Erwin Olaf, (1959-2023).
Cooperation beyond borders
COC’s work extends beyond the Netherlands. International cooperation is a core part of its mission, supporting LGBTQIA+ organisations in more than 35 countries and working with global partners on human rights. This aligns with the Dutch tradition of international engagement through trade, diplomacy and exchange.
A clear example is the COCKTAIL Initiative, which supports LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Through information, social activities and volunteer support, it assists people who have fled persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It connects local support with an international human rights perspective. Freedom, in this view, is not only a national value, but one that gains meaning when extended to others.
Why WorldPride 2026 matters
The combination of WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 and COC’s 80th anniversary brings together several milestones: 80 years of COC, 25 years of marriage equality and 30 years of Pride Amsterdam. This is not only a moment of celebration, but also an opportunity to reflect on how inclusion is maintained and strengthened. WorldPride brings together governments, civil society, businesses and allies from around the world. In a time when human rights are under pressure globally, that exchange remains significant.
Amsterdam offers a fitting setting: a diverse city shaped by people from around 180 nationalities. In that sense, WorldPride 2026 is not only a Dutch event, but a meeting point for a shared belief that equality, dignity and freedom are universal values.
A story that continues
Celebrating 80 years of COC is not only about looking back. It is about recognising how inclusion remains part of an ongoing societal process. In the Netherlands, equal rights are shaped through cooperation between government, civil society, schools, businesses and local communities. Social progress is built collectively: through citizens who speak up, institutions that respond, and international cooperation. That is the broader message behind this anniversary and WorldPride 2026. In the Netherlands, inclusion is not a finished chapter, but an ongoing conversation.
