AMSTERDAM DINNER FOUNDATION HOSTS A CHARITY BALL TO FIGHT HIV AND AIDS
This past Saturday, over 1,000 guests gathered for an unforgettable night at the 31st edition of the Amsterdam Diner. Big names from the arts, politics, media, science, and the business world filled the room, along with members of the Royal Family. For the first time, Countess Zaria joined her mother, Princess Mabel, whose long-standing commitment to the cause made this moment even more symbolic. “Reach Out” helped raise an incredible €1,204,350 in support of the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
The Diner became the largest masquerade ball in the Low Countries, with the dress code serving a powerful purpose - shining a light on the stigma around HIV. The night hit an emotional high early on when Roel Veltmeijer, chairman of the Amsterdam Dinner Foundation, asked everyone to remove their masks. That included a table of trans sex workers, mostly migrants and refugees, who are often sidelined in conversations about HIV care. Giving them the spotlight brought the room to its feet in a standing ovation that lasted over five minutes. It was a reminder of what this evening is really about: dignity, justice, and being seen.
The night was packed with performances thanks to MediaLane and Iris van den Ende. Jamai Loman hosted, while Roxeanne Hazes, Ruth Jacott, Alex Klaassen, and the Dutch National Ballet lit up the stage. Shirma Rouse and the ZO! Gospel Choir’s rendition of Something Inside So Strong echoed the mission behind the EmpowHER project - backed by Aidsfonds and the Diner, to bring vital HIV prevention to young women in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Diner proves, year after year, that this fight matters.
