Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ nightlife covers it all: relaxed bars, busy clubs, late-night parties, and steamy saunas. Reguliersdwarsstraat is the heart for bars, while bigger clubs host themed nights and weekend events. Add canal-side cafés a popular clean gay sauna, and the city offers a mix of fun, cruising, and classic Dutch charm.
Amsterdam’s gay bar scene is as diverse as the city itself. Most action is centered around Reguliersdwarsstraat, with its terraces and cocktail bars, and Warmoesstraat, where things get a bit darker and cruisier. Elsewhere you’ll find long-standing locals’ favorites such as bar Prik with its own personality. Drinks are affordable compared to many European capitals, and nights tend to stretch late.
outboundPrik is a very popular gay bar on the Spuistraat (behind Royal Palace). The bar has been voted best gay bar of The Netherlands in several years more...
outboundSoho is a well-loved gay bar located in the heart of Amsterdam’s main gay street, Reguliersdwarsstraat. The venue spans two floors: the ground floor features a cozy, English-style interior, while the upper floor offers a more classic American bar feel more...
outboundTaboo is one of the most popular gay bars in Amsterdam, located right in the heart of the city’s vibrant gay street: Reguliersdwarsstraat more...
outboundBar Blend is the kind of gay bar that does exactly what it says on the tin—it blends people, music, and cocktails into one easy-going mix more...
outboundTaboo Kantine is the sister bar of Taboo bar. They share the same terrace in Reguliersdwarsstraat, the gay street of Amsterdam more...
outboundBar Montmartre is a slice of Paris tucked into Amsterdam’s Reguliersdwarsstraat, but with a distinctly Dutch gay twist more...
outboundBar Saarein is a true Amsterdam classic, born in the 1970s as a feminist and lesbian hangout and still proudly carrying that legacy today more...
outboundSpijker is one of those Amsterdam gay bars that feels more like your slightly naughty living room than a nightclub. Tucked away in the Kerkstraat, it’s got a loyal local following and plenty of character packed into its cosy interior more...
outboundThe Queens’ Head is a campy Amsterdam institution perched right on the Zeedijk, where canal views compete with drag queens for your attention more...
outboundLellebel is Amsterdam’s drag bar that refuses to take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why everyone loves it more...
Big dance parties happen about once or twice a month in Amsterdam. Every week a lot happens at club Church, and it often involves dancing in just your underwear
The main large gay dance party in Amsterdam is Funhouse in an old industrial complex.
outboundFunHouse is one of Amsterdam’s most popular and high-energy gay dance parties, known for its spectacular productions, sexy crowd, and pulsing beats more...
outboundBACKDOOR is one of the most popular gay & LGBT+ parties in Amsterdam. Expect great music from the best international DJ's, sexy go-go boys, performance art, outrageous drag queens and hedonistic fun at the venue Melkweg more...
outboundBear Necessity is Amsterdam’s beloved gay bear party, bringing together bears, cubs, chubs, otters, admirers, and everyone in between for a night of fun, freedom, and beats more...
Gay disco dance party. The party usually changes venues now and then.
outboundFPQXL (F*cking Pop Queers Extra Large) takes over the legendary Paradiso for a wild and unapologetically queer Pride celebration more...
Amsterdam’s world-famous Homomonument is not just a memorial; it's also a fabulous place to party during Kingsday, Liberation Day more...
Ladz: the gay dance party for lads, scallies, gabbers, sneaker- and sportswear boys. Put on your favorite kit and come out and meet the other ladz more...
outboundRapido is a gay circuit party in Amsterdam. The party is held at concert hall Paradiso, which is a former old church in the centre of Amsterdam more...
Tropikali is an open-minded outdoor festival.
Very cheap underground gay party every week on Sunday in Amsterdam. Be early, as only 220 people fit in and at 22h it's usually full more...
Amsterdam’s cruise bars and clubs are where the city trades terrace cocktails for harnesses and dark corners. The best known is Club Church in Kerkstraat, a fetish and dance institution famous for its weekly underwear nights. Some evenings lean toward sweaty dance floors, others toward unapologetic cruising.
Most of the action, however, clusters around Warmoesstraat near Central Station. Here you’ll find legendary spots like Eagle, which doesn’t really wake up until after midnight. For earlier thrills, Bears Amsterdam and Cuckoo' s Nest open in the afternoon and buzz with after-work regulars.
In short: whether you’re chasing beats or backrooms, Amsterdam delivers.
outboundOnce known as The Web, this long-standing spot has been reborn as Bears Amsterdam, and the name is the game. It’s a bar that caters to bears, their admirers, and anyone who enjoys a pint in a friendly, furry atmosphere more...
outboundClub Church is Amsterdam’s notorious blend of dance floor and darkroom, where dress codes shift, underwear nights reign, and liberation is served with beats, drinks, and very few clothes. more...
outboundCuckoo’s Nest is one of Amsterdam’s most popular gay cruise bars, known for its playful, uninhibited atmosphere more...
outboundNestled on Amsterdam's Warmoesstraat, Dirty Dicks awaits with its raw, energetic atmosphere. This iconic bar features two levels of expansive darkrooms, designed for hot encounters more...
outboundThe Eagle Amsterdam is a gay cruise bar in the gay leather street Warmoesstraat. In the weekend the coat check is open, otherwise you can use the coat check at the bar on the ground floor more...
At the moment Amsterdam has only 1 gay sauna. It's a clean and modern place and located in the city centre near the Central Station.
outboundSauna NieuweZijds (NZ Sauna) is a modern gay sauna located very close to Central Station.
The sauna has a capacity of 260 lockers more...
In summer Amsterdam has some city beaches. But the real one is not far away. By a direct train from Central Station you reach the coast at Zandvoort in 30 minutes. The park to go during day time on sunny days is the Rose Garden at the Vondelpark (see below). A bit further away is Nieuwe Meer, where also clothing optional sunbathing is possible.
The best park to hang out a bit in during the day. A busy cruising spot at night is the Rozentuin (Rose Garden) in the middle of the park (AYOR).
The Nieuwe Meer / De Oeverlanden is a recreational area at a small lake just outside the city centre of Amsterdam. In summer you can bathe in the sun and swim in the lake more...
outboundWell-known leather, rubber and fetish gay shop in the Kerkstraat. Extensive collection of rubber,leather, neoprene, underwear, swimwear and accessories more...
Mr. B is known throughout the gay world for its famous tee-shirts. The original of this famous leather shop is here in Amsterdam more...
Pinkpoint is a small outside gay shop and information centre at the Homomonument. Pink Point started life as a converted ice-cream cart during the Gay Games of 1998 in Amsterdam more...
Rob Amsterdam is the city’s iconic leather shop, offering quality gear, expert advice, and decades of fetish history in the heart of town. more...
The national holiday of the Netherlands is Koningsdag/Kings day (Mon 27 Apr 2026). In Amsterdam this is celebrated with a free market in the whole centre, with lots of music and street parties. The gay streets also have big outdoor parties. This is a day event which ends outdoors at 21:00, in the clubs the party goes on. Kings Day usually takes place on the 27th of April, except when this day is a Sunday, then it is on Saturday the 26th. This is the largest event of the year.
The 2nd largest event is Amsterdam Gay Pride (Fri 31 Jul - 2 Aug 2026). This gay pride is world wide famous because of its unique Canal Parade on the Prinsengracht. Besides that expect very cool gay street parties and lots of big parties indoor, like the famous Rapido party. Amsterdam gay pride usually takes place the first weekend of August.
The last weekend of October it is time for those leather guys with the Amsterdam leather pride weekend.
Here are some other recurring events. 4th of May is remembrance day. At Dam square is the official event with 2 minutes of silence .The king and queen and government attend this. At the homo monument there is a special remembrance for gay victims.
The day after it is Liberation day. There are free markets, usually events a the homo monument and the , Liberation Day Amstel Concert on Amstel river in front of the Carre theatre.
For club house and techno lovers the ADE, the Amsterdam Dance Event / ADE is a must visit. Museum N8 (Museum Night) is a yearly event where the museums in Amsterdam are open at night.
outboundAmsterdam Gay Pride is one of the most special pride events around the world. During the first weekend of August, you can always enjoy a series of circuit parties, street parties and (of course) the world's only gay Canal Parade more...
The worlds biggest club festival and Europe's main electronic and dance music conference. Every club and venue in and around Amsterdam is booked for dance parties with the hottest DJ's from around the world more...
outboundAmsterdam Leather Pride is the yearly leather, rubber and fetish weekend. Leather and fetish men from all over Europe come to Amsterdam for various parties and events more...
outboundKings Day (in dutch: Koningsdag) is the national holiday of The Netherlands., celebrating the birthday of the king.
In Amsterdam almost the whole city centre is a turned into a free market more...
On the evening before Kingsday, first celebrations start on the streets, with street festivals and performances throughout the Amsterdam more...
Every first Wednesday of the month Pathé de Munt shows a special gay classic movie or premiers a new one. The reception with a drink to welcome you usually starts at 20:30, the movie itself starts at 21:00 more...
