Amsterdam Gay Travel
wolfyy’s Amsterdam gay guide to hotels & where to stay, things to do, gay bars, clubs & parties.
The Gay Travel Experience: Amsterdam, Netherlands
From storybook-like streets along long canals to buzzing gay bars with friendly locals, there’s so much for LGBT travelers to experience in Amsterdam. I made the most of my few days here, enamored by the city’s unique charm.
One of the most progressive cities in the world, Amsterdam is known for its historic gay scene, which is still very much thriving!
Dutch open-mindedness allowed local gay culture to exist as far back as the 1940s, paving the way for the city to become one of the world’s most popular gay destinations.
With so many options for gay nightlife venues, places to stay, and parts of the city to visit, it can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much time. In this guide, I’ll make it easy to narrow things down so you can make the most of your trip!
Gay Amsterdam: Hotels & Where to Stay
Amsterdam has so many gorgeous neighborhoods, all with their own special accommodations. To help you decide, I’ll run through the best local areas for gay travelers to stay and recommend some of my favorite popular hotels.
Grachtengordel (Canal Belt) Hotels
Grachtengordel is Amsterdam’s picturesque Canal Belt area that wraps around the south and west of the city’s core. I found a cute little homestay here and absolutely loved it.
With gorgeous architecture and plenty of nightlife nearby, a Canal Belt hotel or apartment will make you feel right at home. The neighborhood is even designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Eden Hotel is located directly on the Amstel near the city’s traditional gay area. Their modern rooms have a variety of unique themes, from traditional to sexy. Some have beautiful canal views, too.
Banks Mansion is a luxury gay friendly hotel with a traditional yet modern feel. It’s also in the Amstel Area, just south of Rembrandt Square and the area’s local gay bars.
Albus Hotel offers a bit more affordability without compromising on style. Rooms are minimal, elegant, and modern. They also have a fantastic restaurant serving modern European cuisine.
Amistad has always been known as Amsterdam’s expressly gay friendly hotel. While the property’s management has changed, they still proudly welcome all guests and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
With 9 rooms, Amistad has a cozy bed & breakfast vibe—and breakfast is always included with your stay. Their single rooms are perfect for solo travelers.
More Canal Belt Hotels I Recommend
Here are a few more excellently rated, gorgeous, and reasonably priced hotels to consider in the Canal Belt area.
Binnenstad (Old Centre) Hotels
Binnenstad is the traditional Old Centre of Amsterdam, which includes the famous Red Light District. Staying here naturally comes with easy access to many local restaurants, gay nightlife venues, and other attractions.
Art’otel Amsterdam is a stunning upscale Radisson Hotels property in a bustling area of the Old Centre. Considering their gorgeous interior design and affordable rates, it’s no wonder gay travelers love this hotel.
With a fitness center, solarium, library, indoor pool, bar, restaurant, and plenty of lounge space, Art’otel has everything you could need to feel comfortable.
More City Center Hotels I Recommend
Check out these highly rated gay friendly hotels in the heart of Amsterdam.
Jordaan Hotels
A charming and trendy neighborhood with a little less bustle, Jordaan is also a great place for first-time visitors to stay. There are plenty of street art, shops, and lovely cafes to enjoy nearby.
Plus, hotels in Jordaan will be only a 15-minute stroll away from the city center.
Mr. Jordaan is one of the few impeccably gorgeous, well-priced gay-friendly hotels in the Jordaan district.
I love the hotel’s design so much. It beautifully captures the feeling of staying in a house in Jordaan while providing all the luxuries of a hotel.
Mr. Jordaan’s rooms here have a chic industrial design, all the essentials, and blackout curtains—useful for sleeping in after a late night out. The property even has an elevator, so you won’t have to worry about lugging your bags upstairs!
On the main level, there’s a cozy café with exposed brick and rich black subway tile. And if you need to get some work done, there’s plenty of space to spread out.
Homestays & Rentals in Jordaan
Booking a VRBO rental in Jordaan is also a great choice. You’ll find a ton of homestay options here since Jordaan is largely residential and doesn’t have many hotels.
Not only will you be able to experience staying in a local Amsterdam apartment or house, but you’ll also get a bunch more space than any hotel around.
Staying in a local houseboat rental is a pretty epic option if you ask me! You’ll find them all over the city, too—not just in Jordaan.
De Pijp Hotels
De Pijp is a neighborhood with a notable hipster vibe, and it’s a fabulous place for foodies to book a place to stay.
Hotels in De Pijp will be a tad bit further from central Amsterdam but everything is still easily accessible via public transportation—or even by foot.
Sir Albert is a gay-friendly hotel in the De Pijp neighborhood that has an urban, masculine design. A few highlights of Sir Albert are high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and luxurious bed linens.
The hotel features a relaxing study, full gym, bar & lounge, terrace, and a traditional Japanese restaurant. You’ll love the area around Sir Albert as well, with a ton of unique local restaurant options.
Amsterdam-Oost Hotels
Amsterdam-Oost is a large and comparatively budget-friendly district southeast of the city’s center. Affordable hotels in Oost are easy to find, many costing around only 100 euros per night.
Generator Amsterdam may technically be a hostel, but it still has an upscale hotel feel! This massive 168-room property nestled alongside the serene Oosterpark has all kinds of spaces and amenities for travelers to enjoy.
Backpackers and solo travelers can score a bed in a shared room for around 20 euros, but plenty of inexpensive traditional 1 to 2-person rooms are available as well.
With grand suites that cost less than 200 euros, Generator is a fantastic place for groups of friends to stay in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Gay Travel Experiences
Stroll Amsterdam’s Gorgeous Canals
Walking along the city’s canals is a classic activity, especially on a gorgeous sunny day. Take in the beautiful flower plantings, check out the awesome houseboats, and peruse cute cafés and shops!
Negen Straatjes is the most famous area of the Canal Belt to explore. I also loved strolling along the smaller canals in central Jordaan and then walking southward along Prinsengracht.
It’s also fun to just get lost and wander along the canals wherever your feet take you.
If you want to see as many of the canals as possible without walking too much, take in the views on a relaxing canal tour.
An evening canal tour with a bar on board is another great idea, especially for a romantic couple’s evening.
Keep an Eye Out for “XXX” Markings
Throughout the city, as well as on Amsterdam’s flag/coat of arms, you’ll see three crosses marked on all sorts of things. They can be on anything from street bollards to building facades to flags. I was so curious about what these are!
There are actually various theories about what these X’s historically mean, from connections to St. Andrew to the noble Persijn family.
Visit the Homomonument
A powerfully symbolic memorial, the Homomonument commemorates all the persecuted gays, lesbians, and other members of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history.
Three pink triangles made of granite serve as a reminder of those of the community who were killed during the Second World War and is now a place used to bring people together. People gather here every August during the city’s pride celebration.
See the City from A’DAM Lookout
The A’DAM Lookout is one of the tallest buildings in Amsterdam and the views of the city’s skyline from the top are spectacular. If you’re brave enough, try the tower’s epic over-the-edge swing. It’s definitely a thrilling experience.
The STRAAT Museum & Buiksloterham
The STRAAT Museum is Amsterdam’s popular street art and graffiti museum, which features larger-than-life installments in a huge warehouse space. Most of the art is produced right here in the museum.
It’s also interesting to explore the pathways that wind around the privately-rented artist workspaces. These areas are a work of art in themselves.
I highly recommend a trip here. you can easily grab tickets on GetYourGuide.
The surrounding Buiksloterham neighborhood is also super cool. Formerly an industrial park, this waterfront area has turned into an artsy district with lots of nightlife venues.
Pilek is a popular gay-friendly restaurant in Buiksloterham that I adored having lunch at. The elegant industrial vibes and waterfront location are amazing.
Visit Delta Works
Truly an engineering feat, Delta Works is the largest storm surge barrier in the world. Located about 90 minutes by car outside of Amsterdam, it’s an interesting day trip experience.
I recommend stopping by especially if you’ll be heading to South Holland to explore Rotterdam or The Hague.
Visitors can follow the corridor through one end of the site for an up-close view of the actual barrier with water rushing over it. And on your way over, you’ll get some epic views of the massive nearby windmills.
There’s an interesting indoor exhibit that shows all the details of how this immense barrier was constructed. Some might find this a little nerdy, but I loved it!
Private full-day Delta Works tours are also an option, although they tend to be on the expensive side. Prices for tours are typical though, considering how long the ride takes to Delta Works and places like Rotterdam.
Explore Amsterdam’s Gay Street
Reguliersdwarsstraat is the official gay street of Amsterdam— one of my favorite places in the city. It may seem like a typical narrow street from an online search, but the ambiance here is incredible, especially in the evening.
Reguliersdwarsstraat essentially connects Rembrandt Square and the Amstel gay area with popular gay bars further west in the neighborhood. You’ll see rainbow flags, bars, and other LGBT friendly establishments all around.
Amsterdam Gay Bars & Clubs
Gay bars are located in two different areas of the Centrum district. One cluster is in Binnenstad, while most others are in the Grachtengordel along Reguliersdwarsstraat.
Below are all the ones you need to know about!
Bar Blend
Bar Blend is my favorite gay bar in Amsterdam. I had an absolute blast watching a hilarious drag show here while enjoying the upbeat pop music and meeting some friendly gay locals.
Closely spaced tables in Bar Blend’s outdoor seating area make it super easy to meet new friends. So if you’re traveling solo, I’d recommend plopping down right here!
The space is incredibly modern and has a long, spacious bar, a balcony level, and a DJ booth. I thought the TV screens in the urinals were entertaining, too! This place is without a doubt my top recommendation.
Taboo
Taboo is just a few steps away from Bar Blend, and it has a similar streetside seating setup that you can enjoy well into the fall season. Drinks are affordable, and the evening drag shows are excellent.
The Queen’s Head
The Queen’s Head is a classic local gay bar that’s been around for over 20 years! They have affordable drink prices, upbeat drag shows, and weekday events like bingo and karaoke.
Expect more of a mixed crowd here compared to some of the other gay nightlife venues in the city. The bar takes pride in being open and inclusive of all genders, races, and ages.
Café Montmartre
Open for over 40 years, Café Montmartre is one of the oldest gay bars in Amsterdam. It’s a cozy, dimly lit spot known for friendly bartenders. They have plenty of high-top seating to enjoy daily happy hours and live performances on Sundays.
Dirty Dick’s
Dirty Dick’s is Amsterdam’s gay fetish bar that’s known for its cruisy vibe. With dim lighting and porn playing on the tv screens, this place has a sexy vibe.
Each month, Dirty Dick’s hosts a handful of extreme fetish events including Fist Factory, Golden Shower, and Naked Dark Cruising night. Every Friday and Saturday, the bar’s Man Cave is open for everyone to explore from 8 PM to 4 AM.
Amstel 54
Amstel 54 may look like a regular cafe during the day, but this bar truly comes to life at night. Its name comes from the bar’s address, significant because the city’s traditional gay area follows the Amstel River here.
The bar is welcoming to all and very comfortable with plush booths and a huge chandelier. Weekly events include drag race viewing parties and plenty of evening drag performances.
Bears Amsterdam
Bears Amsterdam is a newly-branded bar, giving Amsterdam’s bear community an official hangout of their own! Formerly called The Web, this neighborhood hangout has always been popular with bears, along with the greater fetish community.
They occasionally host orgies featuring sexy adult stars in their darkroom space. Other more frequent events include Sunday Social, Bear Social, and Singalong Fridays.
Related → Gay Fetish & Leather Events Worldwide
The Cuckoo’s Nest
The Cuckoo’s Nest is a small but noteworthy gay cruising bar with a darkroom downstairs. You’ll usually find gay locals hanging out here, and during the day, there’s more of an older crowd.
The overall vibe is quite casual, so it’s a great spot to grab an afternoon drink. If you’re coming for the darkroom, try Cuckoo’s Nest later in the evening.
Eagle Amsterdam
Eagle Amsterdam is unquestionably the best gay dance club in the city. A three-story club with a cruising area, this venue is bigger than most other Eagle leather bars around the world.
And while Eagle Amsterdam is technically branded as a leather bar (and surely hosts leather and kink-oriented events), you can find all types of guys here. Drag queens, too!
Wear a sexy leather harness to the club, along with a sexy jockstrap if you plan on cruising.
PRIK
PRIK is one of the most highly-rated gay bars in Amsterdam. An award-winning, pink-themed cocktail bar and restaurant, everyone loves spending an afternoon or evening here.
Their streetside terrace seating is perfect for warmer months, where you can take in the vibes of the city.
Pamela
I definitely need to mention Pamela for their delicious food and cocktails. Pamela is a queer bar and restaurant with relaxed, friendly vibes. Their outdoor seating is super cute, too! On weekdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, the restaurant functions as a queer workspace.
Club Church
Club Church is a cozy and highly-rated gay dance and cruising club with a modern yet sexy feel. The crowd here is pretty diverse, filled with people from all over the world
They host all sorts of events, including techno dance parties, leather/fetish nights, lesbian events, and local gay sex parties like CumUnion.
Spijker Bar
Spijker Bar has a sexy vibe and is one of the city’s oldest gay bars!
You can find a little bit of everything at Spijker, from Saturday evening Bingo to Tuesday night naked parties. The bar also has a pool table, a dark room with glory holes, and lockers to store your clothes if you feel like cruising.
Amsterdam Gay Parties
3xnyx at Club NYX
Each of the club’s three unique floors has a distinct vibe and plays different genres of music. There’s even a DJ booth in the bathroom.
Take an afternoon power nap because parties at Club NYX go all night long, often until 8 AM or 9 AM the next morning!
Bear-Necessity
Bear-Necessity is exactly the type of gay party you think it is—an attitude-free event for the bear community as well as their admirers. Everyone is welcome, and you’ll experience quite a diverse crowd.
This gay party is massive, held at a local venue called Panama Amsterdam. Expect sexy dancers, a sea of handsome men, and epic music. And if you’re looking for a party to show off your sexy harness, this is it.
Related → Bear Weeks Around the World
Furball
Furball is an epic Amsterdam-based gay party for bears and butch guys. It’s essentially a gay cruising party where everyone checks their clothes for a social and sexy night.
The party is held bi-monthly at Club Church, which was recently renovated. Tickets are pretty cheap too—often about 13 euros. Be sure to buy them online in advance.
Amsterdam Gay Travel Tips
Keep Some Cash Handy
If you’ll be spending a night out exploring local gay nightlife, keep a little cash handy because many venues charge to use the restroom! It can be pretty frustrating when you’ve gottta go and have no way to pay.
The Central Ferry is Free!
Amsterdam has a convenient network of ferries operated by GVB that connect the north and south parts of the city across the IJ River. And the best part—all these local ferries are free!
Even if you don’t end up needing to use the ferry to get to your hotel or other attractions, taking a ferry ride is a great way to see some of the city.
Finding Groceries & Healthy Snacks
As someone who often stays in vacation rental apartments, I always stop by a local market to grab some snacks and breakfast food. I quickly realized though, that this isn’t the easiest thing to do in Amsterdam.
You’ll notice that the majority of corner stores and shops largely sell candy and other sweet treats (which makes sense given what is legal here), making those who partake crave snack food.
I’d recommend planning out a convenient trip to an actual grocery store. Otherwise, you might waste time on your fabulous trip going from candy shop to candy shop!
Explore more of northern Europe with wolfyy’s gay guides to Copenhagen and Stockholm.
Need more ideas for gay destinations? Explore wolfyy’s full collection of gay travel guides.
