Gay bars amsterdam netherlands

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One downside is that the venue charges to use the bathroom, but with free entrance and a closing time of 04:00 on the weekends, this does little to deter late night partygoers.
Address: Halvemaansteeg 17
Web: www.cafemontmartre.nl

 

Getto

This mainstream bar on the busy Warmoesstraat at the edge of the Red Light District is a great place to come for a cocktail or a burger with a group of friends, gay or straight.

When you tire of hitting the dance floor, the smoking area outside makes an excellent marijuana-friendly place to relax and chat.
Address: Spuistraat 109
Web: prikamsterdam.nl

 

Spijker

Spijker is a very different place from the other bars on this list.

The choice is wide ranging, with something to suit every taste, and the selection is far too vast to list every gay bar in Amsterdam. The Dutch capital has been a bastion of the LGBTQ+ community for over a century, with its queer community flourishing despite political and social adversity.

Gay Neighborhoods & Nightlife

Amsterdam has several thriving gay villages brimming with gay restaurants, coffee shops, clubs and bars.

Here the crowd of regulars from the city’s gay community rubs shoulders with gay tourists who know Prik’s reputation and straight visitors drawn by the attractive terrace and music. The vibe here is laid back and relaxed, aimed at a slightly older crowd than the incessantly noisy venues above.
Address: Kerkstraat 4
Web: spijkerbar.nl

 

SoHo

Without doubt the most popular gay bar in the city, SoHo is where every night out in the Amsterdam gay scene begins.

On Tuesdays, the bar hosts a drag queen bingo night that is always guaranteed fun. Casual yet hip, they have a killer cocktail list and are open to showcasing female talent of all kinds, whether that be through art on the walls, special guest chefs, or even hosting a pub quiz.

Never in fashion, so also never out of it, this hardy perennial of the lesbian scene is particularly popular at weekends.

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Been there, done that? Tuesdays are karaoke nights and highly recommended. When they’re not performing, the drag queens work behind the bar serving drinks and bringing glamour to any conversation they take part in. However, Amsterdam’s most prominent gay neighborhood is Regulierswarstraat.

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Gay Amsterdam

Amsterdam's Vibrant Gay Scene

Few modern gay scenes are as alive and vibrant as Amsterdam’s. The dark wood interior is at its best in the upstairs smoking room, where it gives the feeling of a library or Victorian gentlemen’s club.

Opened in 1927 by openly gay local character Bet van Beeren, ’t Mandje (‘the basket’) was a popular hangout for the city’s LGBTQ+ community until it closed its doors in 1982. Spijker’s position as a favourite of the leather scene is evident from the gay porn playing on TV screens behind the bar.

gay bars amsterdam netherlands

It also hosts parties on King’s Day, plus bear nights, football nights (during the cup season), Eurovision Song Contest nights and so on.

Been there, done that? Downstairs can get a little packed, but there’s more seating and space upstairs, where you get a great view of the bustling street below.

De Lellebel is a tiny drag bar where the cross-dressing clientele provides all the entertainment themselves.

And we’re not just talking about Reguliersdwarsstraat (Amsterdam’s famous 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. Don’t miss Pink Point, the city’s official gay and lesbian information kiosk right next to it.

Just before its then-owner (Bet’s younger sister, Greet) died, she put the wheels in motion to have the club restored and re-opened – which it was, finally, in 2008, bringing ‘the basket’ back to its bustling best. This two level bar has enough of a club vibe to make the perfect launch pad for a night of dancing and club hopping.