Gay neighborhood in amsterdam
Gay Capital of Europe
Throughout the entire center of Amsterdam you will find homosexual businesses and institutions. Gay and gender diverse visitors do not have to glance for hotels marked with pink or rainbow flags. All hotels, restaurants and bars are very open-minded. The authentic tolerance for homosexuals can be noticed all over the city.
Whether you yearn to dance with the beautiful people around you, design to drink cocktails all night in a terrific prevent, or want to spent a late hours in a prevent with friends: the gay and queer woman scene of Amsterdam is unprecedented.
Everywhere there's something to spot and do in Amsterdam, but most of the male lover cafes, bars and stores are in the center of the city, 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 keep the traditional Dutch music identity high, including widespread anthems from the international song festival repertoire. During King's Day and the Amsterdam G
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 renowned Gay Street) – the LGBTQ+ party scene here stretches across the city.
From the city’s mythical first gay club Cafe ‘t Mandje to tiny queenly 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 foremost clubs in a city famous for its nightlife, after all. Everyone is welcome. So whatever your vibe, here are the finest gay bars and clubs in Amsterdam.
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Derek Roberston is a writer based in Amsterdam. At Period Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers. Find more in our editorial guidelines.
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Gay Amsterdam Guide
Gay Amsterdam travel guide: where to go, dance, swallow and shop
Amsterdam, the city of canals, is not only eminent for its stunning architecture and cultural heritage but also for its thriving gay scene. The city offers a safe and accepting environment for the LGBTQ+ community, making it a well-liked destination for gay travelers. From legendary bars and clubs to exciting events, this Gay Amsterdam Guide is here to aid you discover the best that the city has to offer.
Our Gay Guide to Amsterdam shows you how to plan an unforgettable trip –
with tips on the gay scene, the leading bars, parties, events, and more.
🌈🎉🍻
The capital of the Netherlands has been a bastion of LGBT+ culture for centuries and has seen its community withstand and thrive despite political and social adversity. Today, Amsterdam is home to some of the best gay clubs, bars and hotels in the world, offering gay travelers a truly one-of-a-kind and exciting visit. The Netherlands is of course the first country in the world to introduce marriage equality, gay people living in and visiting the Netherlands are so well approved and integrated that at first there might not seem to be much o
Amsterdam Gay Travel Guide 2025
Upcoming Events in Amsterdam
| 26 – 27 July 2025
Milkshake Festival 2025: big annual open-air festival celebrating the diversity of people: gay, direct, trans, thick, thin, miniature, large, black, white ...
Music: House, Techno, Disco, Pop, R&B, Dancehall, and more.
12:00/13:00 – 23:00 @ WesterPark
-› milkshakefestival.com
-› facebook.com/milkshakefestival
About Amsterdam and its queer life
Amsterdam had been a powerful city of maritime trade fame for many centuries. In the second half of the 20th century it was considered the gay capital of Europe, due to the beauty of the metropolis and due to the city's liberal atmosphere which was far ahead of most other European cities and countries at that time.
As our Amsterdam Gay Maps exhibit, there are several homosexual areas in Amsterdam, all of them not really far from each other. First of all you got the street with the unpronounceable name, Reguliersdwarsstraat, which is rather mainstream and quite busy at the weekend. Nearby are the Amstel street and Kerkstraat. And finally there are Warmoesstraat and Zeedijk in the very cente