August 8, 2010. An estimated 500,000 people gathered along Amsterdam's historic canals joining the Gay Pride parade despite heavy rain, the highlight of a week of activities including concerts, art exhibitions and film festivals. The theme for this year's parade was "Celebrate".

Alongside the 80 or more boats laden with scantily-clad party-goers, the parade through the city’s canals included vessels from political and government organizations demonstrating their support for gay rights. Amsterdam’s newly-elected mayor Eberhard van der Laan was among those who took part and recorded a special filmed message to welcome everyone to the event.

There are around one million gays and lesbians in the Netherlands, and in 2001 it became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

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