The province of North Holland raises the Pride flag on October 11 for Coming-Out Day.
By raising the flag, the province draws attention to the acceptance of people who have come out or want to (but cannot always) come out for their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is a visible sign of support at a time when diversity and our freedoms are increasingly under pressure.
In North Holland, you have the right to your own choices. Everyone is welcome, regardless of age, (cultural) background, gender, sex, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, or disability.
Commissioner of the King Arthur van Dijk: “Everyone deserves the space to be themselves and to love whom they want, today and every day. Visibility remains essential, as not everyone feels free to come out openly. Together we ensure that the flag is more than a symbol. A promise that we continue to work towards a society where everyone feels safe, accepted, and seen, without fear of rejection, hostility, or discrimination.”
Coming-Out Day first took place in the United States in 1988. Since 2009, we also pay annual attention to the day in the Netherlands on October 11.
