My absolute favourite city, where I feel even better than in Berlin, is Amsterdam. This is probably due to the fact that the Netherlands have become the most tolerant country in the world.
The Dutch’s tolerance of LGBTs is rooted in their history. As early as 1811, “homosexual acts” were decriminalised by law. Not only that, the world’s first monument in memory of people who have been persecuted and oppressed because of their sexual orientation was unveiled in Amsterdam in 1987.
In addition, the Netherlands is the first country in the world to allow same-sex marriages since April 1st, 2001.
And there’s one more thing the Netherlands have to offer: the Amsterdam Gay Pride is the only Gay Pride in the world that does not take place in the street, but on the canals in about 80 boats . The “Canal Pride”, every year on the first weekend in August, is undoubtedly an international highlight for the community. It is definitely a must-do.
Nonetheless thousands of Dutch families are also taking part in the Canal Pride to demonstrate for the rights of LGBT people while just having fun. Nowhere else but in Amsterdam are there so many cool family dads wearing a pink shirt on a gay pride – so cute. 😉
In Amsterdam, the gay community has tradition; the first official bar for gays opened in 1927. Today, with the Reguliersdwarsstraat, the Amstel, the Warmoesstraat and the Kerkstraat, you can find FOUR hotspots in the center with countless bars, shops, restaurants, clubs, cruising bars / clubs, saunas and parties for gays.
My personal favourites / tips:
#ClubChurch – Amsterdam’s first cruise club
#ClubNYX – Gays and Straights are welcome, and everyone in between
#SaunaNieuwezijds – the new stylish sauna in the center
And where to stay? – My favorite accommodations for a trip to Amsterdam:
#Valentino‘s in Oud West – CAVA1-1
#Marc‘s Private Room in Amsterdam City Center – JOMA1-2
Well then, I’ll see you at the latest for the next Amsterdam Gay Pride from the 3rd-5th August 2018!
Steven has been part of ebab.com since 2013. He is the man for social media and the ebab gay travel blog. As you can see, he also likes to write a blog article himself.
German version: Steven gehört seit 2013 zum Team von ebab.com. Er ist der Mann für Social Media und unseren ebab Gay Travel Blog. Wie ihr seht, schreibt auch er gern einmal einen Blogartikel selbst.