AntwerpCity illuminated in rainbow colors for Antwerp Pride
The seventeenth edition of Antwerp Pride will kick off this week. Antwerp is covered in rainbow colors everywhere. The rainbow flag are visible on various buildings, in streets and on the Velo shared bicycles. This year the city is going one step further and several locations are illuminated in rainbow colors.
The seventeenth edition of Antwerp Pride will take place from August 7 to 11. Every year around this period, the rainbow flag can be seen everywhere in the city, such as at the district houses, the town hall and the Scheldt quays. The Pride flag will also be hung over the Meir and the shopping streets around Nationalestraat, Lange Lozanastraat, Kloosterstraat and De Wilde Zee. The columns at the Antwerp Opera House turn rainbow tones. In addition, 700 Velo shared bicycles are riding around with rainbow flag stickers.
Rainbow lighting
New this year is that various locations in the city will be bathed in rainbow lighting in the coming weeks. The existing lighting of buildings, squares and parks will be changed to rainbow colors from today and tomorrow. In recent years, this could be seen, for example, at the Draakplaats. 
These include the Opera House, the Antwerp Central Station, Het Steen, DIVA, the Scheldt Quays, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the Harmonie Park, the Zuidpark, the Sint-Paulusplaats, the Wintergang in the Groen Kwartier, the Kattendijkdok and the square in front the MAS will be illuminated in rainbow colors in the coming weeks.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges Harbor House and the Bourla Theater will also be equipped with rainbow lighting.
Mayor Bart De Wever “Although we had previously wanted to baptize the Opera in rainbow colors, this was unfortunately not technically feasible at the last minute. That is why we have decided to bathe not only the Opera, but half the city in rainbow colors on the occasion of Antwerp Pride. With this colorful expression we want to emphasize that everyone can be themselves here. Antwerp Pride is a celebration of our solidarity and a powerful statement against discrimination. Together we are building a city that everyone can be proud of, with a strong city community where everyone respects each other.”
All Antwerp residents
This extra effort for Antwerp Pride is in line with the ‘All Antwerp residents’ campaign, with which the city wants to make a difference together with its residents and build a city where everyone can be themselves, regardless of gender, age, religion or sexual preference. , ethnic-cultural background or disability. The goal is for every resident to feel 100% Antwerpian. 
The theme of Antwerp Pride this year is ‘Many Voices. One Pride’. With this, the organization wants to unite everyone behind the rainbow flag to support the LGTBQIA+ community with the challenges and obstacles in today’s society. 
Alderman for equal opportunities Karim Bachar: “In a city like Antwerp, full of diversity, everyone should be able to be themselves. We see this every year during Antwerp Pride, where everyone is welcome. That is why we, as Antwerp residents, are committed to equal opportunities and fight against any form of discrimination. We are all different, but we are all Antwerp residents.” 
Antwerp Pride kicks off on Wednesday, August 7, with an opening party at OLT Rivierenhof. The full Antwerp Pride program can be found at antwerppride.com
Photo Antwerpen Local | © Thomas Heuser 
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