Why is Amsterdam filled with brightly painted elephants?

If you’re in the city centre of Amsterdam, you may notice a lot of big, brightly coloured elephants on the streets. The square Beursplein has a lot of them, and in streets, stores and other places you can find elephants hidden in plain sight as well. These elephants are part of Elephant Parade, the world’s largest elephant art exhibition, which came to Amsterdam for the city’s 750th birthday. The parade is organised by the Elephant Parade company, an organisation that displays these painted elephants to help save actual elephants in Thailand. And this year they brought them to Amsterdam. You can see the elephants from May 19 to June 29 2025, try to spot them all!

Elephant Parade is an organisation founded in the Netherlands in 2006, with the first parade happening in 2006 in Rotterdam. They aim at raising awareness about the elephants in Thailand through these art parades, and also donate part of their profits to elephant conservation efforts. Through the sales of elephant statues designed by all kinds of artists, they raise money for several elephant charities, while also promoting local artists in Thailand and in the cities the parades are held. 

This year in Amsterdam there are 56 elephants spread around the city. Thirteen elephants are on Beursplein as the main exhibition, and another forty spread around the Kalverpassage, Gelderlandplein and plenty of other places in the city. And also included this year are two ducks. These are not by accident. The idea of adding two ducks is to send a message of inclusivity, even if you don’t fit in, you can still be part of the parade. 

Want to see all the elephants? In our Tours&Tickets shops you can pick up a map with the location of all the statues, so you can start your hunt and discover the city at the same time. Most elephants are spread around the city centre, with some placed on the street, and some hidden inside. A few are hidden in the Kalverpassage mall, and some are hidden in shops, galleries, museums and attractions in Amsterdam. While most elephants are in plain sight, we know that some are hidden a little better. We won’t spoil it all, but there is an elephant in BodyWorlds, and one in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, and a few hidden in the parking garage below. We won’t tell you where the two ducks are, but you can find out.

If you want to support Elephant Parade yourself, you can buy your own small elephant at the pop-up shop inside our Tours&Tickets shop at Damrak 26. Small replicas of the elephants are for sale there, and at several other locations. Pick up your elephant hunt map there as well, and bring your own little elephant along while you explore Amsterdam hunting for elephants. Part of the profits will go directly towards elephant conservation projects, and you will support Elephant Parade and the artists who created the elephants as well. 

For more information and an overview of all the elephants visit the Elephant Parade Amsterdam page, where you can also find a digital map. Pick up your physical maps at our Tours&Tickets shops and go exploring, and buy your own elephant at the pop-up shop at Damrak 26, or one of the other locations. Or get a digital copy of the map online The elephants are in town until June 29, so be on time. Admire these beautiful elephants now, come to Tours&Tickets and head out to spot them all!

Photo Credit: Harry van 't Veld