Would you like to discover gays in Amsterdam?
This article is for you.
Let's go in search of these places together.
Amsterdam gay: article summary
The history of Amsterdam's gay scene
Amsterdam has been a world leader in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights for over 200 years. In 1811, the country decriminalized homosexual activity.
The first gay bar, run by a lesbian, opened in 1927.
The COC, a gay rights organization, was founded in Amsterdam in 1946 and is the world's oldest active organization of its kind.
In 1987, the Homomonument became the first memorial dedicated to homosexuals persecuted during the Second World War, and in 2001, the Homomonument became the first memorial dedicated to homosexuals persecuted during the Second World War, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.
Knowing all this, it may seem surprising that Europe's most historically open city doesn't have a genuine gay district.
Although sections of streets like Kerkstraat and Reguliersdwarsstraat are definitely queer, Amsterdam's LGBTQ+ scene is as vast and free as the city's laws.
Amsterdam's best gay bars
If you're looking for a drink in an LGBT bar, you'll find what you're looking for in 3 of the city's most famous venues.
SoHo
Don't be fooled by the elegant wood-panelled interior and Victorian staircase of this Reguliersdwarsstraat.
Once the weekend arrives, this two-level bar is packed with pop music until 4am. The outdoor patio offers a tranquil escape, as does the upstairs smoking room.
SoHo is located in the center of Amsterdam's largest LGBTQ+ district, on Reguliersdwarsstraat.
Gay Amsterdam: Café t'Mandje
Café t' Mandje has the honor of being Amsterdam's first official gay bar. Opened in 1927 by Bet van Beeren, it operated until 1982, reopening in 2008.
The interior is covered floor-to-ceiling with photos and memorabilia from the bar's golden age, serving as a time capsule for the city's homosexuals.
This open-air establishment is perfect for a beer and a chat with friends.
Spijker
Spijker opened its doors in 1978. Red-lit works of erotic art line the walls, two television screens behind the bar broadcast cartoons and hardcore content.
A pool table in the back attracts men looking for action. Saturday bingo night, hosted by drag queen Miss Didi Licious, offers an extravagant time in town.
Amsterdam's best LGBTQ+ clubs and saunas
If you're looking for a different experience in the city, why not visit Amsterdam's gay clubs and saunas?
They include :
- The famous NYX club
- The Nieuwuzijds sauna
Amsterdam gay: Club NYX
Located in a four-storey former shed, NYX is a graffiti-strewn dance club that attracts a mixed crowd of queer and LGBT people.
The venue offers plenty of entertainment, including performances by international drag artists, world-renowned DJs and a different style of music on every floor.
Nieuwuzijds
If you're looking for a bath, steam or something else, this gay sauna is for you.
The facilities include :
- A Finnish sauna
- A jetstream jacuzzi
- A Turkish hammam
- Private cabins
- A lounge with a bar
It's the perfect place to relax after a long day of sightseeing in Amsterdam!
Amsterdam's best gay events and parties
Today, some of the city's best gay nightlife events are one-night-only parties that take place on a semi-regular basis.
Here you'll find a younger, trendier crowd ready to party the night away.
WTF Wednesday Queer Night at Vrankrijk
Every Wednesday and some Saturdays, Vrankrijk welcomes performances by queer visual and performance artists.
It's a safe space for people of all races, non-gendered and typified.
Rapido
This popular festival attracts crowds of sweaty, shirtless gays. Tickets usually sell out quickly.
This event takes place around once a month in various event venues. It's a great way to spend time celebrating, surrounded by an exceptional community.
Gay pride in Amsterdam
From the last Saturday in July to the first Sunday in August, rainbow flags fly high along Amsterdam's canals for Pride, one of Europe's most popular queer celebrations.
Unlike most global events, Amsterdam's Gay Pride began in 1996 as a a celebration of love and diversity.
There are marches, rallies and parties to attend throughout the week. However, the most popular event is the Canal Parade on the last Sunday of Pride.
Eighty boats ply the city's waterways from the Scheepvaartmuseum, along the Prinsengracht, leading to Westerdok.
Nearly half a million people from all over the world attend the festivities every year.
Homomonument: a gay monument in Amsterdam
In 1987, Amsterdam inaugurated theHomomonumentthe world's first monument to homosexuals persecuted under the Nazi regime.
Located on the Westermarkt, thin lines of pink granite form a triangle on the square. The triangle represents the symbol that homosexual men and women were forced to wear in the concentration camps.
Inside each of the triangle's three points is a smaller triangle which draws attention to important local sites.
Important monuments in every branch
One faces the National War Memorial on Dam Square. Here, homosexual activists laid a wreath of lavender in 1970 and were subsequently arrested, giving rise to the idea of this monument.
Another faces the Anne Frank House and bears a quotation from a gay Jewish poet, Jacob Israël de Haan: Naar Vriendschap Zulk een Mateloos Verlangen ("Such an infinite desire for friendship").
The third faces the headquarters of COC Nederland, which has the distinction of being the oldest gay rights organization in the world.
There are plenty of places to meet up for gay gatherings in Amsterdam. Just follow this list, you're sure to have a great time, surrounded by a peaceful and jovial community.
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