Noise standards have not been raised at Utrecht Pride, but having more space also helps to hold a street party

Councilor Eva Osters announced on Thursday that there will be no higher noise standards during the Utrecht Pride street party. However, the municipality will discuss with the organization a different layout for the street party which will facilitate the reduction of the risk of noise pollution.

Utrecht Pride returns to the agenda on Saturday 1 June. The party is a huge success every year and is attended en masse. Dozens of boats celebrate love and diversity. After the boat show, there is always a street party at Jacobskerkhof, but there are concerns about that.

The municipal organization asked whether the event could be called “image-defining”. This allows noise standards to be raised. The street party at Jacobskerkhof is over the top. However, the municipality indicated it was not open to this, after which politicians again asked the local councilor for clarification on Thursday.

Councilor Osters confirmed that noise standards would not be increased. “Utrecht pride is something special and important for the city. This does not mean that we allow higher noise standards.” According to Osters, the size of the street party has almost exceeded the location in Jacobskirkhof, and this increases the risk of disturbance to local residents.

Last year, it emerged that noise standards had been exceeded during the concert, although it eventually emerged that only one report had been received on the matter.

Move the party or create more space

Alderman Osters indicated that he would like to think about solutions with the organization. For example, she suggested that perhaps the street party could be held in a different location, or that a different design for the event site at Jacobskerkhof could help.

Providing more space on the current site will be a big help for Utrecht Pride, says initiator Robert Calf. “The larger the number of attendees, the louder the sound must be, and due to space constraints, the stages are close to the facades. If we had more physical space in Jacobskirkhof, we could distribute everything better, making it easier to adhere to noise standards.