Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ Scene: History, Monuments & Nightlife
- Inbal Tur-Shalom ענבל טור-שלום
- Jul 12, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Amsterdam has long been celebrated as a city of freedom and tolerance. For more than two centuries, it has been a safe haven for those who live and love differently. This legacy of openness has made Amsterdam the global capital of the LGBTQ+ community. Today, the city offers an extraordinary range of experiences: bars and clubs, saunas, drag shows, cultural monuments, and even hotels and restaurants designed with LGBTQ+ travelers in mind.
LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA+?
Before diving into Amsterdam’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, let’s clear up the terminology. Most travelers are familiar with the acronym LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) and the six-colored Pride flag 🌈. In recent years, the acronym has expanded in English to 2SLGBTQIA+, recognizing the wider spectrum of identities, and the flag itself has evolved to represent greater inclusivity.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of some of the main terms:
2SLGBTQIA + | |
2Spirit Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Questioning Intersex Asexua | + Pansexual + Agender + Gender Queer + Bigender + Gender Variant + Pangender |
For the purposes of this post, I’ll use both LGBTQ and LGBTQIA+, along with “the LGBTQ community” or “Amsterdam’s gay community,” as shorthand for this rich spectrum.
Tolerance in Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s reputation as a gay-friendly city goes back more than 200 years. But the true turning point came in 1998, when the city hosted the Gay Games—the first time this international sporting event for the LGBTQ community was held outside the United States and the first time in Europe. Since then, the annual Amsterdam Gay Pride celebrations, with their world-famous Canal Parade, have cemented Amsterdam’s status as the beating heart of global LGBTQ culture.
👉 If you’re planning to visit in summer, make sure to also read my dedicated guide to Amsterdam Pride Week.
Honoring the Past: The Homomonument
A meaningful place to begin any LGBTQ-focused visit to Amsterdam is the Homomonument, a moving memorial in the city center, located along the Keizersgracht canal.
Unveiled in 1987, this pink granite monument is composed of three large triangles forming one larger triangle. Together, they represent the past, present, and future of the LGBTQ struggle for equality.
The triangle shape is based on the pink triangle badge that gay men were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps. Its presence here is deeply symbolic: the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, and Amsterdam continues to be a symbol of freedom.
The inscription on the monument, “To Friendship Will Be an Endless Desire” (Naar Vriendschap Zul Een Mateeloos Verlangen), is taken from a poem by Jewish gay writer Jacob Israël de Haan (1881–1924). Standing here, overlooking the canals, visitors are reminded both of the progress achieved and the vigilance still needed for the future.
Pink Point: Amsterdam’s LGBTQ Information Center
Right next to the Homomonument you’ll find Pink Point Amsterdam, a small kiosk that serves as the city’s official LGBTQ information center. Established in 1998, the same year as the Gay Games, it started as a temporary booth and has since become a permanent space.
Here, you’ll find:
Tourist information tailored for LGBTQ travelers
Souvenirs and pride-themed gifts
Exhibitions, events, and community initiatives
Pink Point is more than just an info desk—it’s a reminder of Amsterdam’s commitment to visibility, inclusivity, and celebration.
Living by Numbers: The AIDS Memorial
On the eastern side of Amsterdam Central Station stands Living by Numbers, a striking AIDS memorial created by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel.
The piece resembles a giant abacus, with hand-blown glass beads glittering against the backdrop of sky and water. The beads symbolize the countless numbers connected to the epidemic: lives lost, people living with HIV, immune cells, and the ongoing scientific efforts.
This memorial is both a tribute and a beacon of hope—honoring those who died, supporting those living with HIV, and recognizing the activists, doctors, and friends who have carried the fight.
Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ Scene: Where to Go Out
Behind the floating flower market lies Reguliersdwarsstraat—try saying that in one breath. Today, it’s a trendy, mainstream hub filled with bars, cafés, and restaurants. By day, the terraces invite relaxed people-watching, but come Friday and Saturday nights, the street transforms into one of Amsterdam’s most vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife zones.
Taboo Bar & Restaurant is one of the best-known hangouts in this area. It’s open every day from 3pm, serving cocktails, snacks, and hearty comfort food. Wednesdays are cocktail nights, Sundays host lively drag shows, and the music keeps things upbeat throughout the week.
For a smaller, colorful, and friendly vibe, Cafe Reality opens at 6pm daily. It’s intimate, fun, and perfect for drinks and dancing with a mixed and welcoming crowd.
A short walk away, Kerkstraat (Church Street) has long been tied to Amsterdam’s gay history. Since the 1950s, this charming street has been home to bars, clubs, and LGBTQ+-friendly businesses.
The legendary Spijker Bar, open since 1978, offers pool tables, bingo nights, and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s known as a place where guests can truly be themselves, with a friendly, anything-goes spirit. For those looking for something more adventurous, Club Church hosts themed nights ranging from underwear and leather to drag, sportswear, and fetish parties. Open Wednesday to Sunday evenings, it includes dark rooms, private cabins, free lockers, and complimentary condoms—an iconic part of Amsterdam’s underground LGBTQ+ culture.
On the Amstel River, just steps from lively Rembrandt Square, you’ll find an eclectic mix of gay-friendly venues. Amstel Fifty Four nods to New York’s Studio 54, with drag queens, disco, and dance-floor energy lighting up the evenings. During the day it feels like a typical Amsterdam café, but by night it transforms into a full-on party spot. Nearby, Café Montmartre is all about nostalgia, with 80s and 90s classics, karaoke, and sing-alongs. Drag Show Bar Lellebel keeps the sparkle alive with drag performances Thursday through Sunday. And if you’d rather start with something laid-back, Brug34 is a stylish café on the canal, serving organic breakfasts, light lunches, excellent coffee, and wine.
Amsterdam also has LGBTQ+ institutions outside the main nightlife strips. Mr. B is a legendary leather and fetish store near Dam Square, offering everything from leatherwear to BDSM accessories. Vereniging De Trut, a Sunday-only disco run entirely by volunteers for almost four decades, is a non-profit whose proceeds support global LGBTQ+ projects. And for something intimate, local host Mark offers massage treatments for men, ranging from relaxation to clay masks and scrubs.
When it comes to fashion, Amsterdam’s gay men’s style scene is polished, colorful, and elegant. Local favorites include SUITSUPPLY, Skikk Tailoring, Mr. Marvis, GIRAV, and State of Art Store Amsterdam—all offering contemporary Dutch design with international flair.
The lesbian scene in Amsterdam has shifted over the decades. From the vibrant women’s collectives of the late 20th century to a quieter period in the early 2000s, the city is now seeing a new wave of female-focused venues and events. Café Saarein in the Jordaan has been a feminist and lesbian institution since 1978, while Café ’t Mandje, open since 1927, remains a historic icon on Zeedijk. Newer venues like Bar Buka, B’Femme, and party collective Janey keep the energy alive for younger generations of queer women.
And Amsterdam’s female-focused businesses extend beyond nightlife: Mail & Female, an erotic boutique founded in 1988 by two women, offers sex toys and lingerie designed for women. Foxy Brown sells stylish plus-size women’s fashion in Albert Cuyp Market. And craft brewery Gebrouwen door Vrouwen (“Brewed by Women”), founded by two sisters, has become a must-visit spot for beer lovers.
Picture yourself on a warm summer evening, sitting on a terrace along the Amstel with a glass of crisp Dutch beer, drag queens in sequins welcoming guests inside, and the sound of laughter drifting down the canal. It’s Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ scene at its most magical—free, playful, and unapologetically itself.
LGBTQ+ Festivals and Events in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has long been one of the world’s most welcoming cities for the LGBTQ+ community, and its festivals reflect that spirit of freedom, creativity, and celebration. Whether you’re into film, music, or street parades, the city hosts events for every taste and identity.
Roze Filmdagen (Pink Film Days) Since 1996, this international queer film festival has been a highlight of Amsterdam’s cultural calendar. It screens feature films, documentaries, and shorts from around the world—many of which are rarely shown in the Netherlands. It’s an extraordinary chance to see stories that might never reach mainstream cinema, all in an intimate and welcoming festival atmosphere.
Milkshake Festival More than a dance festival, Milkshake is a statement. Held several times a year, it features outdoor stages with international and Dutch DJs, live performances, and music spanning house, disco, pop, techno, R&B, and dancehall. The festival is dedicated to inclusivity, global unity, and love, giving a stage to underrepresented artists and celebrating diversity in its purest form.
Amsterdam Gay Pride On the first Saturday in August, Amsterdam explodes in color for one of the most iconic LGBTQ+ events in the world. The highlight is the Canal Parade, with fabulously decorated boats cruising through the city’s waterways. But Pride is more than one day—it’s a full week of street parties, club events, concerts, exhibitions, and cultural happenings. If you’re here during this period, expect Amsterdam at its most vibrant, with photography opportunities on every corner.
LGBTQ+ Friendly Hotels in Amsterdam
The Netherlands’ strict anti-discrimination laws ensure that all hotels welcome LGBTQ+ travelers with respect and openness. That said, some hotels go further, proudly defining themselves as gay-friendly and often located near the heart of Amsterdam’s nightlife. Here are three central options:
The Albus – Design Hotel A stylish, family-run 4-star hotel with a focus on sustainability. Highly rated on both Google and Booking.com, it offers sleek, contemporary interiors and warm hospitality in the heart of the city.
Hotel Amistad Once considered Amsterdam’s most popular gay hotel, Amistad is now fully inclusive, welcoming guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities. With personal service and a hearty breakfast, it still carries its legacy as a safe and friendly base for LGBTQ+ travelers.
Eden Hotel A favorite with Israeli visitors, Eden combines modern comfort with old-world charm. Part of the property overlooks the Amstel River, placing you within walking distance of many of the city’s top bars, clubs, and cultural attractions. Its well-appointed rooms and in-house bar and restaurant make it an easy and elegant choice.
👉 For more about where to stay in Amsterdam, including hotels by neighborhood, see my Amsterdam Hotel Guide.
גברים, נשים וכל המנעד. כולנו משפחה אחת | צילומים: © ענבל טור-שלום
✨ Imagine yourself at dusk, standing on a bridge as the canal sparkles with the reflection of a rainbow-colored boat during Pride. Music echoes in the distance, people laugh and dance in the streets, and the whole city feels like one giant celebration of love and freedom.
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