Amsterdam gay friendly
Amsterdam’s queer scene rivals that of the greats; up there with Berlin, Madrid, Brighton and more. And we’re not just talking about Reguliersdwarsstraat (Amsterdam’s eminent Gay Street) – the LGBTQ+ party scene here stretches across the city.
From the city’s legendary first gay club Cafe ‘t Mandje to tiny drag bars with karaoke, Amsterdam has it all. Just don’t be surprised to see some open-minded straight people frequent these joints – these are some of the best clubs in a city eminent for its nightlife, after all. Everyone is welcome. So whatever your vibe, here are the foremost gay bars and clubs in Amsterdam.
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Derek Roberston is a writer based in Amsterdam. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers. Find more in our editorial guidelines.
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Hotels for gays
Amsterdam
Top gay friendly hotels in Amsterdam where you will feel at home
The capital of The Netherlands is already for years one of the most popular gay destinations of Europe. Besides the high number of gay people living in Amsterdam, there are also many gay venues and excellent museums such as the Van Gogh museum, Het Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Most of the gay venues are around the street Reguliersdwarsstraat, although this is changing.
The capital of The Netherlands is already for years one of the most popular gay destinations of Europe. Besides the high number of gay people living in Amsterdam, there are also many gay venues and excellent museums such as the Van Gogh museum, Het Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Most of the gay venues are around the street Reguliersdwarsstraat, although this is changing. Also around the river Amstel, the Zeedijk and the Kerkstraat there are several gay bars, shops and clubs.
Hotels for gays Amsterdam
Top gay friendly hotels in Amsterdam where you will feel at home
Dikker & Thijs
Gay Capital of Europe
Throughout the entire center of Amsterdam you will find gay businesses and institutions. Gay and transgender visitors carry out not have to glance for hotels marked with pink or rainbow flags. All hotels, restaurants and bars are very open-minded. The genuine tolerance for homosexuals can be noticed all over the city.
Whether you want to verb with the beautiful people around you, plan to drink cocktails all noun in a terrific bar, or want to spent a night in a bar with friends: the gay and lesbian scene of Amsterdam is unprecedented.
Everywhere there's something to observe and do in Amsterdam, but most of the gay cafes, bars and stores are in the center of the metropolis, in four popular districts: Amstel, Kerkstraat, Reguliersdwarsstraat, Zeedijk and Warmoesstraat.
Amstel
The gay and lesbian scene around the Amstel (including Rembrandtplein and Halvemaansteeg) has a more traditional character. In the Amstel area (between Muntplein and Amstelstraat) you can find tons of 'brown cafes' that hold the traditional Dutch song culture high, including po
Amsterdam's reputation as one of the most gay-friendly cities in Europe is successfully earned.
History of tolerance to homosexuality in Amsterdam
Relatively liberal attitudes in the first half of the 20th century led to the establishment of the first Dutch gay magazines, Levensrecht and Wij. The outbreak of World War II meant setbacks as Nazi occupation led to the oppression of homosexuality in the Netherlands. Real progress was made from the s on, leading to the formation of many LGBT groups and the release of the Gay Krant magazine. The Netherlands became the first territory in the world to recognise same-sex marriage in , and Amsterdam’s then-mayor Job Cohen performed ceremonies almost immediately.
Pink Point
For any visitor looking for up-to-the-minute information on the Amsterdam gay scene, the Pink Point found close to the Anne Frank Dwelling at Westerkerk provides an excellent overview. The friendly folks behind the counter at this gay tourist information stand are always willing to help with maps, club night listings and insider advice. The Pink Point is expose from to ev