Amsterdam is a visually striking city made up of picturesque canals, colorful houses with gabled facades, vibrant tulip gardens, bustling cafes, and scenic pathways perfect for the favored Dutch pastime of cycling. Topping the list of gay-friendly destinations, the city of canals is an oasis for travelers who can let loose, showing their true colors in one of the most liberal-minded cities on the map. The Netherlands has a progressive history when it comes to tolerance and rights for minorities. It even set the bar in 2001 as the first country to officially recognize same-sex marriage.

Amsterdam has also worked hard to clean up its reputation as the debauched party city of Europe over the last few years. Whereas before, many knew the Dutch capital for its red-light district, bachelor party-filled bars, and marijuana-selling cafes, now it is better known for its world-class museums, contemporary galleries, sprawling outdoor spaces, and restaurants serving up the best of Dutch cuisine—like the delicious stroopwafels!

All that said, the city has retained the best of its nightlife, only within a more controlled fashion, and its gay scene still thrives with bars, clubs and cruising establishments drawing in LGBTQ+ partygoers as the night falls over the canals.

Table of Contents

1. General Tips
2. Transportation & Airport Transfer
3. Gay Hotels in Amsterdam
4. Sightseeing & Activities in Amsterdam
5. Amsterdam Gay Tours
6. Restaurants and Cafes
7. Amsterdam Gay Bars and Clubs
8. Amsterdam Gay Saunas & Cruising Bars
9. Gay Events in Amsterdam
10. Day Trips from Amsterdam

General Tips

As is often the case, especially in Europe, if you’re lucky enough to have flexibility when you travel, then the best time to visit Amsterdam is either in spring (April/May) or fall (September/October). That way, you avoid the bad weather of the winter months and the tourist hordes during the summer.

Reguliersdwarsstraat is the official “gay street” in Amsterdam, although there are other clubs and bars outside of it. It is located in the canal ring just south of the center. There, you’ll find the majority of the action. Amsterdam has worked to change its reputation as a city of sex and drunken partying to one of culture and beauty, mostly due to it being the favored spot of bachelor and bachelorette parties of other Europeans. The city still has great gay nightlife, but it pays to be extra respectful of locals when out on the town and not add to the bad reputation of foreign visitors or end up on the wrong side of the law.

The Netherlands is a very liberal place when it comes to sex work and soft drugs. One of the attractions of Amsterdam to many are the “coffeeshops” where you can actually buy and smoke (or eat!) marijuana legally—the Otherside Coffeeshop being the gay favorite in town. Note, however, that as of May 25, 2023, it is illegal to smoke marijuana on the street in the old city center (Red Light District, Nieuwmarkt, and Dam Square) with possible fines of €100. Prostitution is also still legal in their world-famous Red Light District, but under new rules, sex workers must close their venues at 3 a.m.

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Transportation & Airport Transport

Public transport in Amsterdam is effective and easy to use. If you’re flying in, you’ll arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Simply catch the train at Schiphol to travel directly to Amsterdam Central Station, which only takes about 15 minutes. From Amsterdam Central Station, you can transfer lines or walk to your hotel or accommodation, depending on where you’re staying. The one-way train ride costs about €6.

Public transport in Amsterdam consists of trams, buses, and metros. The most convenient option for visitors is a disposable one-hour card or day card (valid for one to seven days). One-hour tickets can be bought from the conductor or driver on the tram or bus. Day tickets can be bought on the tram or purchased in advance. Driving in Amsterdam is really not advised, as even the locals concede that the city was very much made with carriages and boats in mind, not cars, making driving an absolute nightmare.

Gay Hotels in Amsterdam

When visiting Amsterdam, it’s best to stay central which makes getting around the city’s attractions easy.

Luxury

Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam – Perfectly located, this 5-star luxury hotel in the heart of Amsterdam offers luxurious rooms in a unique historical ambiance with French elegance. A blend of Dutch history and French luxurious contemporary design, it features a top-level restaurant, various bars, and a spa with an indoor pool area.

Mid-Range

NH Amsterdam – This hotel is located in the museum and fashion district and combines leisure facilities, elegant rooms, and a convenient location. Amenities include a fitness center, sauna, and steam bath. Guests can also enjoy a drink at the Bar & Kitchen Copper onsite.

Amistad Hotel – An institution in the Amsterdam gay scene, this hotel is owned by a group of international gay men. It's handily located close to several gay bars and clubs, including just 100 meters from the infamous Church. The renovated rooms of Amistad Hotel are simple yet modern, and they serve a delicious Dutch breakfast in the morning.

Budget

Quentin Golden Bear – It’s a mainstream hotel with a gay history. Previously an LGBTQ+-owned property, it’s now simply gay-friendly. Centrally located in Amsterdam in Kerkstraat and within walking distance of the well-known Club Church. A Dutch breakfast buffet is available each morning.

Anco Hotel – This hotel was once a men-only gay hotel but now has its doors open to all, although it remains gay-owned. Most interestingly, it is within a 17th-century canal house right in the heart of the Amsterdam Red Light District—so close, in fact, that you can watch the comings and goings on the street below from your window. The hotel is also close to a host of nearby gay bars. The rooms are basic but comfy enough for those who don't want to spend too much on luxury.

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Sightseeing & Activities in Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum – The most famous museum in the heart of Amsterdam holds more than 8,000 works of Dutch art and history, including masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh. Book tour →

Ann Frank House – The home where Anne Frank and her family lived and hid during the war. It’s a writer's house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. It preserves the hiding place, has a permanent exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank, and has an exhibition space about all forms of persecution and discrimination. Book tour →

Van Gogh Museum – They are understandably very proud of the Dutch painter Van Gogh in the Netherlands, so there is a whole museum dedicated to him in Amsterdam. Tickets may seem a bit pricey at €22 and have to be bought online, but the cost is well worth it. You'll learn all about the various phases of Van Gogh's life and see the largest collection of his work in the world with 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters by the artist. Book tour →

Sex Museum –The Sex Museum has been around for more than 20 years and has managed to collect many hundreds of interesting pieces of art, unique objects, and rare old photographs, but avoids the bluntness of pornography to bring them together in an organized and interesting way.

Red Light District – From brothels to sex shops to museums, the Amsterdam Red Light District has it all. But contrary to what a lot of people might think, the Amsterdam Red Light District has a very friendly atmosphere and isn't as dangerous as it used to be. Book tour →

Canal Cruise – See Amsterdam at its most picturesque on a 1.5-hour canal cruise by night. Discover the historic city center as you sail past the Skinny Bridge, Golden Bend, and more. Marvel at the illuminated merchant houses and learn where the local hotspots are. Book tour →

Vondelpark – Should you wish to take a respite from sightseeing and canal cruising, Vondelpark is the largest park in Amsterdam, just behind the Rijksmuseum, and is 470,000 square meters of lush greenery. During the summer months, there are often open-air concerts and theater plays.

Nieuwe Meer – A serene lake located in the south of Amsterdam, ideal for those seeking a tranquil escape. Surrounded by lush greenery and scenic landscapes, the lake features a well-known, gay-friendly, and clothing-optional beach area. You can reconnect with nature or your fellow man, as there's also a sneaky cruising area in the woods behind it too.

Amsterdam Gay Tours

LGBTQI+ History Tour Amsterdam – Get an in-depth look at LGBTQI+ history in Amsterdam on this walking tour with a guide who lived through the beginnings of the movement. Listen to the history of the 1980s and 1990s, when Amsterdam was the gay capital of the world, and visit landmarks important to LGBTQI+ history. With a small group, you'll have plenty of chances to ask questions and enjoy an intimate group atmosphere. Book tour →

Gaily Tour in Amsterdam – Be immersed in Amsterdam’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene on this private walking tour of the Dutch capital. Choose a time and package that works for you, then set off with your guide to learn about the community’s history, exploring neighborhoods such as Jordaan and De Wallen and hearing plenty of personalized insights along the way. Book tour →

local gay guide – Find various tours offered by local gay guides in the city. Their guides create an authentic experience for you and make you feel like a local as well. Check out neighborhoods outside of the tourist areas, see the LGBTQ+ scene, get recommendations only locals know, and of course, visit the iconic places too. Some tours offered in Amsterdam include: Queer history tour and Explore hidden streets. Book tour →

Restaurants and Cafes

Café de Jaren – A bright and spacious café located in the center of Amsterdam. The first-floor balcony and sunny canal-side terrace on the Kloveniersburgwal offer views across the River Amstel. Café de Jaren owes its popularity to the quality of the food and drink it serves, the reading table, the canal-side terrace and balcony, the variety of tucked-away places to sit, and the light and spacious atmosphere.

Brug 34 -By day, this gay-friendly restaurant/cafe/bar is a wonderful place to kick back with a coffee on their canal-side terrace—or a cocktail if you want, no judgment. They play jazz music to add to the laid-back atmosphere, and you'll find an eclectic group of people there, including a lot of LGBTQ+ folk. The food is nice too, and by night it transforms into a lively wine/cocktail bar.

The Otherside – Let's be real, one of the key reasons people go to Amsterdam is to smoke. And this gay-friendly coffee shop has the perfect relaxed atmosphere to do so. It's located in a historical building in the heart of Amsterdam near the gay bars. Locals and international visitors alike frequent it, and it's easy to make friends while hanging out. Their cake is good too!

Supperclub – A place where like-minded people find each other and go home with a story at the end of the night. Supperclub brings you a night full of spectacle, from an exciting 5-course surprise menu to amazing music, exciting performances, and visuals. Everyone plays a role, even you, and fills in the white canvas that is the Supperclub.

Restaurant d' Vijff Vlieghen – The restaurant is often referred to as a culinary museum. Walls are decorated with beautiful gold-plated leather from the 17th and 19th centuries. d’Vijff Vlieghen is situated in the center of Amsterdam and is an ideal location for a romantic dinner.

Amsterdam Gay Bars and Clubs

Taboo – This fun bar is part of the gay secret village, close to the flower market in the main gay street of Amsterdam. It is easy to see why this bar is so popular as they have not one, but two happy hours—the first between 6-7 p.m. and the latter between 1-2 a.m.—making it a great place to drink before clubbing. Throughout the week they host a range of nights, but their most advertised event is a Wednesday cocktail party, which includes games, drag shows, and of course cocktails.

Prik – An award-winning cocktail bar that is nonetheless completely welcoming and unpretentious. Locals, expats, and tourists alike hang out in the chic pink interior and large terrace—with a busy dance floor on the weekends. Prik doesn't mean what you think though: it in fact means ‘bubbles’ in Dutch in reference to the Prosecco they serve from the tap!

Café ’t-Mandje – They say it’s rude to ask a woman her age, but this bar wears it as a mark of pride. Cafe ’t Mandje is the oldest gay bar in Amsterdam—it's been around since 1927 and was opened by the legendary lesbian “Aunt Bet.” Thus, it is as much an important symbol in gay history as it is a bar and café. The bar staff are friendly, and it has a cool, busy vintage interior with testaments to its history shown through pictures and art.

Soho – Sexy and sassy and everything you’d expect from a gay party bar. It's big, which is fortunate as it gets busy most days. They also have a happy hour and play house and pop tunes with hot go-go dancers strutting on the bar. Found on Reguliersdwarsstraat—the busiest gay street.

Exit Café – Known as “the coziest terrace in Amsterdam,” Exit Café is found right in the center of Reguliersdwarsstraat. Open every day till midnight, it's a great meeting place and focal point for the gay nightlife of the area—whether you plan on a quick drink or a heavy night out. Inside, it has its own dance floor with DJs playing the best commercial music.

Amstel 54 – Named after the area it is found in, Amstel 54 is a more traditionally Dutch bar with a tavern-like feel to it. The warm atmosphere is complemented by DJs and drag shows on Sundays.

De Lellebel – Also found in the Amstel district, this cafe/bar is all about the drag and has a well-earned reputation for its glittering lip-sync performances. The bar is run by trans women and drag queens—the ladies of the house of Lellebel—and has a fabulous array of cocktails on offer to enjoy with their spectacular shows. Sundays are dedicated to the transgender community with events run by the Netherlands Transgender support groups.

NYX – Charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent—this club has all that. Only add fun to the mix…with a sprinkling of glitter. Every Friday, NYX club plays a range of tunes from house to pop, complemented by shows and snazzy effects. A trendy yet unpretentious atmosphere that caters to the full rainbow of the LGBTQ+ community.

Rapido Events – Great international DJs, cool lights, hot topless guys. Need we say more? The biggest monthly circuit party-esque club in Amsterdam.

De Trut – The place to be on a Sunday for any queer person not into the commercial scene. The club represents great music, cheap drinks, and sound ethics. De Trut has been going since the mid-eighties and is completely run by volunteers, with the profits from the party going to LGBTQ+ projects. It also operates a refreshing “no phones” policy while in the club to encourage visitors to enjoy the moment.

Amsterdam Gay Saunas & Cruising Bars

The other popular gay area in Amsterdam is around Zeedijk and Warmoesstraat, which is where you’ll find the fetish shops and several gay cruising bars.

Church – Not a lot of praying happens at this Church, but you may well end up on your knees! This club pulls no punches when it comes to being a place to express yourself sexually. Just to give you an idea, the themes range from naked nights to mask parties to spanking nights to queer fetish disco to their infamous Meat Market night—which is exactly what it sounds like, with tops and bottoms separated, then set up for action. Check online before you go, so you know exactly what you're in for.

Eagle Amsterdam – There are many Eagle bars scattered across the world, and the one in Amsterdam lives up to the name. For over 43 years, it has been a playground for the gays—especially for leather fetish gays, but everyone is welcome really. It is both a dance club with great DJs and a cruising bar with a darkroom and slings.

Cuckoo's Nest – A free-to-enter bar that has a rather busy darkroom attached to it. A great place to hang out and…see what happens. They run special fetish-based events from time to time including Mr. Sportswear.

 Dirty Dicks – Perhaps appropriately located near Amsterdam’s red-light district, in the center of Amsterdam sits this “anything goes” fetish bar. A cozy bar at the front and a raunchy two-floor darkroom at the back—equipped with slings, cabins, glory holes, a wet area, and more. It is one of the oldest in Amsterdam and has no strict dress code, but fetish gear is highly encouraged.

Nieuwezijds – The only gay sauna in Amsterdam, but it’s a good one and found close to Central Station. It has all the usual steam rooms, saunas, jacuzzi, a darkroom, and a bar area to unwind in. They run special events like No Towel Tuesday, Gender Fluids’ Wednesday, and a Bears Working Up A Sweat night once a month on a Saturday.

Gay Events in Amsterdam

Pride Amsterdam -A truly one-of-a-kind experience with the canal parade attracting over 300,000 spectators, street and club parties, and a Drag Queen Olympics. The parade actually takes place on the water with spectators watching from the banks of the famous canals. Huge boats full of everything from sexy dancers to leather-bound bears pass down the waterways of the city during late summer as hundreds of thousands celebrate in one of the most open and progressive cities on the planet.

King’s Day – Takes place in April in honor of the Dutch King. The main day’s activities are followed by a gay-inspired night with many parties across the city with everyone dressed in orange!

Milkshake Festival – A huge LGBQ+-focused, outdoor music and dance festival held in July. This Milkshake definetly brings all the boys to the yard!

Day Trips from Amsterdam

Zandvoort – There's no gay beach in Amsterdam, but there is in this coastal town just thirty minutes away by train from Amsterdam Central Station. Their long, sandy beach has a gay—and clothing-optional—section located on the far south side. Zandvoort is every bit as inclusive and diverse as Amsterdam itself, with its own beach clubs and bars for those who would like a quieter scene away from the city.

Rotterdam – Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands—one hour south of Amsterdam and two hours north of Brussels. It’s an incredibly modern and diverse city and is not at all what you might think when you imagine a major European city. The sightseeing in Rotterdam isn’t historic and the architecture isn’t old. But this is what makes Rotterdam stand out. This is the contrast to the rest of Europe. Book tour →

Madurodam – It's a small world! Quite literally at thus miniature park showcasing famous Dutch landmarks and cultural heritage in a 1:25 scale model. Visitors can explore detailed replicas of historic buildings, windmills, and canals, as well as interactive exhibits that bring the Netherlands' rich history to life. It's a perfect destination to learn about the country's architecture and traditions in a fun and engaging way. To get to Madurodam from Amsterdam, take a direct train from Amsterdam Central Station to The Hague Central Station, which takes about 50 minutes. From there, it's a short tram ride (Tram 9) to Madurodam. Or take a tour from the city. Book tour →

Bruges – The city of Bruges owes its name to the various bridges you will find in it. It was declared a World Heritage City in 2000 and is also known as the Venice of the North. It also has a great Medieval period architectural heritage, which you can enjoy as you walk through the city. Book tour →

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