- guardian.co.uk, Monday 2 April 2001 01.39 BST
The mayor of Amsterdam married four gay couples just after the stroke of midnight, when the new law granting homosexuals equal rights to marry and adopt children came into force.
The couples - three male and one female - nervously exchanged their vows.
"There are two reasons to rejoice: you are celebrating your marriage and you are also celebrating your right to be married," the mayor, Job Cohen, told the newly weds in the city hall. Pink cake and pink champagne were served at a reception, and then the party moved to several of the city's gay clubs.
"I'm proud to be Dutch," said Dolf Pasker, who married his partner of six years Geert Kasteel. "This makes it all real."
The group ceremony was the culmination of a 15-year crusade in the Netherlands. Gay couples are now able to apply for court permission to adopt children after living together for three years. The law also eliminates legal ambiguities on inheritance, pension rights, taxes and divorce.
AP
