01 Jun

20:00

Noord-Hollands Archief

Jansstraat 40, Haarlem

A Historical Café celebrating the COC's 80th anniversary with talks on local LGBTQ+ history and the art of drag, plus a musical performance and spoken word.

Historical Café | Pink and Rainbow

More info & tickets

To celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the COC in 2026, this Historical Café is dedicated to the rainbow community. In 1946, the advocacy organization for LGBTI+ people was founded in Amsterdam. Thirty years later, in 1976, the Kennemerland chapter was established. Historian Hans van Felius will talk about his research in the archives of the Haarlem vice squad, which documents an initial attempt to establish a local chapter.

Maaike Rikhof, curator of modern art at the Frans Hals Museum, will give the second lecture. In 2024, the museum focused on drag from an art-historical perspective with the exhibition 'The Art of Drag'. Because drag – challenging prevailing gender norms through clothing and/or makeup – is everywhere. Rikhof shows that it was and is a favorite subject for artists. For example, Hartjesdag, the originally Haarlem holiday where men dressed as women and vice versa, was often painted around 1900. Artists who themselves engaged in cross-dressing or drag will also be discussed.

Singer Marco Edam, winner of the COC Song Festival 2025, will sing the winning song ‘Schouders’ (Shoulders). To conclude, Joost Mulder will present a spoken column.

Celebration of Pink Saturday, 1989