Do you think you will see more purple on the streets today? This is the reason!

If you walk down the street in Zoetermeer today, you may see more purple than normal in the street scene. If you’re thinking: this feels like a pink elephant, don’t worry! You can’t get it wrong and there is a reason behind the purple clothes, nail polish and make-up among young people.

Friday, December 12 is Purple Friday. Freek Janssens van interest group COC explains: “Purple Friday is celebrated in schools to show that no one should be bullied because of who they are.”

Diversity in schools

Many Dutch primary schools, secondary schools, secondary vocational education and colleges pay extra attention to diversity on Purple Friday. Freek: “It is important for pupils and students to be themselves at school, regardless of who you are or who you like. By wearing the color purple, the students show that they support that message.”

From cotton candy to nail polish

What Purple Friday looks like varies per school. Freek: “I have already heard about schools where students hand out purple cotton candy. Or schools where there is a small nail polish studio so that everyone can have their nails painted purple.”

Bullying behavior

According to Freek, Purple Friday is not only fun and enjoyable, but attention is also needed. “Unfortunately, LGBTQIA+ students are still bullied more often than other pupils and students,” he says. “With Purple Friday we want to show that everyone belongs and that no one should be bullied because of who they are.” According to the Stop Bullying Now foundation LGBTQIA+ students are bullied twice as often as other students.

So you saw it clearly, the street scene turned more purple than normal. If you see young people in purple clothing walking through Zoetermeer around this time next year, you now know why!