Dutch Parliament Votes to Fly Rainbow Flag for First Time

The Dutch House of Representatives voted 90 to 36 on Thursday evening to fly the rainbow flag at its building this Sunday, marking the first time the flag will be displayed there. The decision reverses an earlier move by the parliamentary presidium to cancel the plan. The presidium had initially approved the flag for Coming Out Day but withdrew support after objections from the Christian party SGP, which argued the flag represents activism rather than a national symbol. Opposition parties including PvdD, 50Plus, and Volt then submitted a motion to overturn the decision, citing support for LGBTQ+ rights and an inclusive workplace. The roll-call vote forced lawmakers who had already left The Hague to return, drawing criticism from some members. BBB's Caroline van der Plas called it a waste of thousands of kilometers, while ChristenUnie's Pieter Grinwis described the process as "sad and farcical" but voted in favor "for the people it concerns."