nuSep 25, 2026, 07:23

MEROL, Roze Filmdagen and documentary F*CK DRUGS win Winq Awards

The Winq Awards ceremony in Amsterdam honored several notable figures and organizations for their contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community, including singer MEROL, the documentary F*CK DRUGS, and the film festival Roze Filmdagen. The event also celebrated the eightieth anniversary of the COC and recognized various activists and local leaders for their advocacy work.

The annual Winq Awards ceremony was held at the Stadsschouwburg in Amsterdam to honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community. Among the notable winners, singer MEROL received the Winq Ally Award for her consistent support of queer artists and the broader community. The documentary F*CK DRUGS, directed by Rein van Leeuwen and Jesse Bleekemolen, earned the Winq Media Award for its exploration of chemsex, while the film festival Roze Filmdagen was honored with the Winq Culture Award ahead of its thirtieth edition.

Additional accolades were presented to recognize long-term advocacy and local impact. The LGBTQIA+ interest group COC received the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of its eightieth anniversary. Other recipients included T-huis for the Community Award, Kenny Owen for international activism, and Kees Hogetoorn, who was named Local Hero. The ceremony, hosted by Annefleur Schipper and Sharvin Ramjan, featured presentations by prominent public figures such as Michiel van Erp and Splinter Chabot.

Culture Netherlands

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Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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