Zaanse Regenboog |

Both our magazines are created in the center of Amsterdam, so there are always plenty of events to cover just in the city center. On the other hand, we tend to miss out on important initiatives in other cities and more rural areas of the Netherlands, where LHBTQ+ communities thrive and are often more needed than in our immediate surroundings.

Yesterday, we started our journey looking for communities outside Amsterdam. We went to Zaandam—yes, we know it borders Amsterdam, so don’t laugh! Breaking geographical barriers isn’t always easy for city folks.

Luckily, we were invited by our own editor Vera den Adel, who has worked for many years as a volunteer for the Rainbow Community in the area that we call ‘Zaanstreek’ (a large region surrounding the city of Zaandam).

This was a New Year’s reception held in a charming gallery, and Frank (left in the picture) gave a speech about all they had accomplished during 2024. We were truly impressed. You can read more about this event in the upcoming edition of Norden Magazine.