***Update May: Our Utrecht Canal Parade boat is full***
We are thrilled to announce that we will be joining the Utrecht Pride for the very first time on Saturday, June 7, 2025! As we sail through the beautiful canals of Utrecht, we celebrate love, diversity, and inclusion. Join us as we proudly share this special moment with the LGBTIQ+ community and allies. Let’s make this day unforgettable!
Why we want to join the Utrecht Canal Parade:
We see a very accessible, loving, and inclusive Pride in Utrecht. This is exactly what we aim to reflect with our bar, called ‘Buka,’ which means ‘open’ in Indonesian. Bar Buka is a gay bar in the Pijp, Amsterdam. While we focus on women in the LGBTIQ+ community, we’re all about welcoming everyone: gay, lesbian, trans, non-binary, bisexual, straight, m/f/x – if you want to celebrate yourself, you’ll find a home here.
We opened our doors six years ago and one of our goals is to create a safe and inclusive space where people can just be themselves. Since then, we’ve become a trusted spot for our community, a place to meet up, make new friends, and celebrate love in all its forms.
But we believe visibility is powerful. It brings people together, helps with acceptance and inspiration – especially for those who might not always feel at home in their own environment. Joining Utrecht Pride gives us a chance to spread our message of love and inclusion beyond Amsterdam. Utrecht Pride has its own unique vibe and meaning within the Dutch LGBTIQ+ community, and it’s the perfect place for us to show what Bar Buka is all about: openness, diversity, and pride.
BOAT CONCEPT: BAR BUKA – WHERE GIRLS MEET
The lesbian community is often underrepresented in the LGBTIQ+ scene, and there are still many misunderstandings and a lack of awareness around lesbians. At Utrecht Canal Pride 2025, we want to celebrate and make visible the diversity and strength of the lesbian community.
From butches to femmes, androgynous lesbians, non-binary people, and trans women – everyone is welcome with us. With our boat concept, “BAR BUKA: WHERE GIRLS MEET,” we’re bringing the unique vibe of our bar to the parade. Our boat will show what it feels like to experience the coziness, connection, and inclusivity of our bar.
We want to show that the lesbian community is as diverse as the people in it. Even though our slogan is ‘Where girls meet,’ we encourage men to join us on the boat. Just like we welcome men in our bar, everyone is invited to celebrate with us!
All passengers will be asked to wear gold and our boat will also be decorated in gold. While sailing, signs and flags are held up with texts (such as Femme, Butch, Dyke, Goldstar). We would love it if our passengers would bring their own signs and flags.
It will be a fantastic afternoon with music, fun and a diverse boat with your loved ones. Each ticket costs 95 euros, which includes drinks (beer, wine, mixers, soda), toilet and DJ-entertainment). There are limited places available. You can register via the Google form below. Everyone must register individually – when you register, you can indicate who you would like to go on the boat with and we will try to take that into considering. Register before May 1st, full is full. You will hear from us as soon as possible but latest May 15, whether you have secured a spot on the boat. At this moment we do not yet know what time we expect you in Utrecht on Saturday June 7, but keep the afternoon from 12:00 to 18:00 free in your agenda. Be aware that it is not possible to get on and/or off in between. On Saturday May 24, we will host a meeting in Bar Buka for all passengers and share all information needed for the fun filled day.
Registration link: Deleted – sorry our boat is full, send an email to: connect@barbuka.nl to be added on the wait-list.
To make this afternoon unforgettable, we are still looking for sponsors. We will place your logo on our boat and mention your company in all of our communications. It is also possible to make a voluntary donation. Please send us an email to connect@barbuka.nl to discuss how you can support.
