Amsterdam LGBTQ+ City Guide
Every summer, around the end of July and early August, Amsterdam kick's off LGBTQ+ Pride Week. Right now, the city is buzzing in the summer heat, with an overdose of rainbows and glitter. It’s electric! But Pride is also so much more than that.
As special as this week is, it’s important to mention that Pride exists within all of us 365 days a year. Celebrating Pride is not only when cities and corporations bring attention to the LGBTQ+ community (sometimes for their own benefit). There are many ways to connect, learn, heal, and celebrate during Amsterdam Pride Week and throughout the year.
Amsterdam’s queer community reaches far beyond the infamous Reguliersdwarsstraat or the colorful Pride Canal Parade. Of course, just like any other city, Amsterdam isn’t perfect. Rainbow washing, discrimination, street harassment, controversy, and institutional racism unfortunately still do exist here (yes, even within the community too). However, we are incredibly fortunate to live in a progressive city that holds space for a variety of female friendly, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Wherever you are along your journey of self-discovery, meeting like-minded people is abundantly helpful. And fortunately, across Amsterdam, there are plenty of fun, funky, safe places for queer people and allies to eat, drink, meet, and of course, party together! This City Guide highlights spaces that are queer-friendly all year ‘round. Putting up a Pride flag for one week a year just doesn’t cut it.
Representation matters—this Amsterdam LGBTQ+ City Guide highlights my favorite parts of Amsterdam's queer culture from my own female, BIPOC point of view. I hope this LGBTQ+ friendly City Guide will inspire visitors to look beyond the party scene and explore other dimensions of queer culture in Amsterdam.
I've been an Amsterdammer for over a decade and, over the years, have noticed that most of the Amsterdam queer-friendly travel guides are tailored to gay men and their party scene. That’s one aspect of queer culture, but our community is far more diverse and nuanced than only one group in particular. Funny enough, in 2010, one of my first travel writing jobs in Amsterdam was managing the gay party listings for Time Out Amsterdam. Back then, I remember thinking, 'But where are the spaces to meet people like me?'
The LGBTQ+ community has a range of people, experiences, identities, and curiosities that demand inclusivity. Fortunately, we have come a long way in the last decade—I hope this City Guide helps others feel included, too!
As always, my bespoke City Guides are written from my own personal experience and perspective. If you have a fun event, safe space, or community to share, please get in touch. Happy Pride allemal!
Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Friendly Cultural + Community Organizations
Queer Network LGBTQ+ Network for people of color.
Colourful Pride NL A grassroots organization offering workshops and events to bring empowerment, joy, and visibility to the LGBTQI+ Caribbean and BIPOC community.
We Reclaim Our Pride A local organization championing for an intersectional Pride celebration and queer liberation over rainbow capitalism.
Queers 4 Climate Dutch organization that stands against climate breakdown and self-organizes for a liveable planet.
Black Pride NL A grassroots organization and social justice movement centering and celebrating the Black LGBTQIA+ community of color.
Queer Skate Club A collective that brings queer people together through the joy of skating, events, community, and love.
Pride Walk Amsterdam’s annual Pride Protest + March from Dam Square to Vondelpark.
KnapHouse A Queer Culture Consultancy offering brands insight on inclusion.
Kindred Kuts Amsterdam’s only Queer Black Barber creating genderless haircuts in the city center.
LGBT Gay History Tours Discover the hidden history of Amsterdam with special guided tours.
Queer Currents An Amsterdam-based platform curating LGBTQI+ makers and events.
LGBT+ Amsterdam Walking Tour Discover more about the city’s LGBTQ"+ history with this self-guided walking tour from iAmsterdam.
Black Queer Trans Resistance A political action group in the Netherlands.
Bij1 A Dutch political party that advocated for system change and arose from a shared desire for connection, solidarity, justice, and equality.
Rosefilm Dagen Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ film festival.
Unboxed Foundation A Dutch organization hosting events to make young people aware of equality, freedom, and diversity.
Homomonument cultural landmark along Prinsengracht to commemorate persecuted LGBTQ+ people.
Pink Point LGBTQ+ Info Center Amsterdam’s official information kiosk near the Homomoument offers insight on all things LGBTQ+ related in the city.
Unwanted Words Project platform for up & coming queer voices in poetry & spoken word in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and beyond.
Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Friendly Bars & Restaurants
The Protest Bar An open-minded, queer-friendly bar where like-mined people come together to create a better world for all.
Pamela LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-friendly bar and cafe in Amsterdam West.
Bar Barrio is a Female-founded bar, creative hub, and safe space for the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC community.
Jen’s Bing Pop into this Taiwanese food truck turned cafe for a refreshing bubble tea or savory bao bun.
Brug 34 Cafe, restaurant, and bar in Amsterdam’s city center catering to the LGBTQ+ community.
Bar Buka Female-founded lesbian bar along the Albert Cuypstraat for queer women and allies.
Waterkant A tropical oasis along the canal serving cocktails and Surinamese food. In July 2022, this venue became home to the world’s largest Inclusive Pride Flag!
Vrankrijk An Autonomous political cafe (and former squat) in the city center that serves vegan food and hosts occasional events, including poetry, live music, and WTF Queer Wednesdays.
Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Friendly Music + Club Nights
Pon di Pride Dancehall and Caribbean party hosted by and for the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community.
House of Jungle Queer DJ collective hosting Afrohouse and amapiano parties.
Lovelee A queer-friendly venue offering art, entertainment, and club nights near Leidseplein.
Milkshake Festival An LGBTQ+ friendly festival and community celebrating people from all walks of life
The Living Room Ballroom Lessons Amsterdam-based community offering weekly ballroom classes.
Ms. Jones Musical events and club nights created by and for lesbians, queer women, and non-binary people.
Club NYX An open-minded nightclub on the famous Reguliersdwarsstraat offering parties for men, women, and everyone in between.
Tropikali Festival LGBTQ+ friendly summer festival at the NDSM.
Femmazing Women-only parties taking place in Amsterdam and across Holland.
Tens Amsterdam A bi-monthly queer club night starring the best of the Dutch Ballroom Scene.
House of Vineyard The Netherlands’ first Ball House was founded by pioneering Mother Amber Vineyard.
My Amsterdam Guides are always evolving alongside the city itself.
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