30 years of PRIDE+ at ABN AMRO
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
From the Happy Bankers Drinks to the Gay Bankers Network and today’s PRIDE+. In the national A Seat at the Table campaign, we share the history of LGBTIQ+ inclusion at ABN AMRO through the stories of colleagues. In the run-up to the WorldPride Canal Parade on 1 August, these stories will appear on our internal and external channels. Below, a brief summary of our LGBTIQ+ history.
1995: The Happy Bankers Drinks
At a time when being open about your sexual orientation at work was not yet something people took for granted, the Happy Bankers Drinks started. It was a monthly, informal get-together with a low-threshold and welcoming character.
Rick Ramdas, who has worked at the bank for 36 years, has seen how much has changed. “Being open about your sexual orientation was not a given back then. People simply did not talk about it. Today, things are very different.”
Early 2000s: The Gay Bankers Network
In the early 2000s, the Happy Bankers Drinks developed into the Gay Bankers Network, with Paul Zellenrath as one of its founders. The group gained a clearer name, more members and a stronger voice within the bank. “It was mainly a social network. We organised drinks and informal gatherings, for example,” Paul says about the early days.
“A good starting point, but not enough to make a real difference. To do that, you need to be visible and accessible to everyone in the bank. The Gay Bankers Network organised the first Pride activity for the whole bank that was not centred around drinks.”
2006: Our first boat in the Amsterdam Canal Parade
In 2006, the Gay Bankers Network formed a board and introduced a clear vision: ABN AMRO should be an organisation where everyone can be themselves, regardless of sexual orientation. That same year, we joined the boat parade during Pride Amsterdam for the first time.
On board was Nicole Böttger, then 26 years old and now Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “Looking back, I see that this topic has been visible within the bank for many years,” she says. “It has never been a temporary focus. It has become a real part of the organisation.”
2020: PRIDE+
Six years ago, the network received the name we know today: PRIDE+. This created more space for a wider and more inclusive approach to LGBTIQ+ inclusion. Today, PRIDE+ has around 300 members and works to create a working environment where every LGBTIQ+ colleague feels welcome.
“PRIDE+ is about more than fun events. It is about creating a place where people feel seen, supported and involved,” says board member Eduardo Rojas.
According to the network, this remains the heart of its mission: making sure every LGBTIQ+ colleague feels safe at work by encouraging awareness, visibility, engagement and connection.
2026: PRIDE+ Germany
PRIDE+ continues to grow. When our German colleague Sarah Vornhagen joined ABN AMRO three years ago, she noticed there was no LGBTIQ+ network in Germany. She explains: “I believe PRIDE+ deserves a place within our organisation there as well. So, when the Dutch board reached out to become more active internationally, I immediately seized that opportunity.”
And sure enough, since May this year, PRIDE+ has been a reality.
Colleagues at subsidiary International Card Services (ICS) also actively promote greater visibility, including Diana Hoeve-van Eeden. “I was recently looking for ways to organise something around Pride at ICS,” she says. “After asking around, I discovered PRIDE+ at ABN AMRO. I signed up for the newsletter, attended a meeting and felt welcome straight away. I met colleagues who are committed to inclusion, and that enthusiasm is contagious.”
At ABN AMRO, we believe our differences make us stronger. That is why we work to create a place where everyone feels welcome. Where people feel seen. And where you can be yourself. For us, Pride is more than a moment to be visible. It shows what we stand for: a bank and employer for everyone.