The Amsterdam Rainbow Dress is a monumental artwork created from the national flags of countries where LGBTQIA+ people are criminalised or denied fundamental rights.
Whenever a country adopts legislation that advances LGBTQIA+ equality, its flag is removed from the Dress and replaced with a rainbow flag. The artwork therefore evolves alongside global developments, transforming legal change into a visible act of progress.
The Dress serves as both a celebration of freedom and a reminder that equality remains out of reach for millions of people worldwide.
How it began
The Amsterdam Rainbow Dress was created in 2016 by Mattijs van Bergen, Jochem Kaan, Arnout van Krimpen and Oeri van Woezik.
Originally unveiled during EuroPride Amsterdam, the Dress was created to make the global reality of LGBTQIA+ rights visible in a single image.
What began as a temporary artistic intervention quickly grew into a long-term international project.
Rooted in Amsterdam
Amsterdam remains the home of the Dress and the city from which the project operates internationally.
In 2017, the Amsterdam Rainbow Dress became part of the collection of the Amsterdam Museum, recognising its significance as both a cultural and social landmark.
A symbol that evolves
The Amsterdam Rainbow Dress is not a static monument.
Every rainbow flag added represents progress. Every remaining national flag reminds us that the struggle for equality continues.
As the world changes, the Dress changes with it.
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