Sawt Falasteen - Amsterdam marks 25 years of gay marriage with weddings

The Netherlands made history on April 1, 2001, when it became the world's first country to legalise gay marriage.

Nearly 36,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot in the quarter-century since, according to the Dutch statistics bureau. Three more made their solemn matrimonial vows shortly after midnight at a ceremony marking the milestone.

"I was 14 years old when, 25 years ago, the first marriages took place here in Amsterdam," Jetten, a 39-year-old centrist who is engaged to Argentine hockey player Nicolas Keenan, told AFP.

"For me, it was one of the first moments that I saw on television that it is possible, even as a young, back then, gay boy, to be yourself and to love whoever you want to love," Jetten, who was elected last October, said.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, who officiated the three marriages, hailed Jetten's presence at the ceremony.

"You know, we had a conservative government for a couple of years and there was no good news for gay rights," said Halsema, who is from the Green party.

"And now we have a gay prime minister who is very self-aware and proud. And I think for young gay people it's a great example."

Eelke de Jong, 45, and Elton Dos Santos Fiame, 39, were among the three couples wedded by Halsema.

"It's the milestone to celebrate a big accomplishment from 25 years ago of what happened. And we were just too excited to be a part of it," Dos Santos Fiame told AFP.

Twenty-five years on, several dozen countries have followed the Dutch in recognising gay marriage.

While a step forward, more progress needs to be made, Halsema argued.

"So we're celebrating and we're also protesting a little bit today," the mayor added.

D.Qudsi--SF-PST