Amsterdam Pride hosts 'Married For A Day' ceremony as Dutch marriage rates slip
Dozens gathered in a pink church at Amsterdam Pride to take part in a symbolic one-day marriage ceremony.
During Thursday’s Pride festivities in Amsterdam, a crowd of people wearing rainbow flags and sequins lined up inside a pink-colored church to partake in the "Married For A Day" ceremony, allowing them to be married for the duration of the event. Jan Derksen-Wynn and John Wijfjes were the inaugural couple, stressing that the right to marry remains essential. The celebration takes place near the site of the world’s first legal same-sex unions, a milestone for a nation now seeing a near-10% decline in overall marriage since those unions were legalized.
While same-sex marriages have become routine—over 36,000 since 2001—many Dutch couples now favor cohabitation agreements, with 42,500 signed in 2025. Prime Minister Rob Jetten, the country’s first openly gay leader, highlighted the ceremony’s relevance as LGBTQ+ rights face new challenges worldwide. Organizer Julia van den Beek said love appears in many forms and deserves recognition.
Why it matters
The event spotlights ongoing support for marriage equality while Dutch couples increasingly choose cohabitation over traditional marriage.
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