Original version

BBC World Service Online

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

Documentaries

Gay wedding blocks.jpg

08/01/2024 GMT

The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

BBC World Service - Witness History, The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalise gay marriage

In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage. A collective wedding at midnight televised the first unions.

On 1 April 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage.

Four couples were chosen to take part in a collective wedding at midnight which was broadcast on TV.

Hélène Faasen and Anne-Marie Thus tell Dan Hardoon about the wedding they thought they'd never have. 

(Photo: The four happy couples cut the cake. Credit: Marcel Antonisse/ANP/AFP/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The world’s first lesbian couple to get married

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service