Gay Amsterdam

Gay Amsterdam

Whether or not Amsterdam is the "Gay Capital of the World," as proclaimed by some admirers of the Netherlands' long-standing acceptance of gays and their right to marry, the city undoubtedly has a très gay nightlife. While every nook and cranny is fair game to experience the whole gamut of Amsterdam's sexual orientations and gender-based identities, the gay scene divides into something of a three-ring circus throughout the city center.

Reguliersdwarsstraat: Predictable and pretty, the venues here attract mostly men in their 20s, 30s, or 40s (with the occasional sugar daddy grandpa who still has pecs of steel). It's trendy but tactful, cruisey but only after a certain hour. This is not to say, however, that things can't get a little bit X-rated. The dark room at Club Exit, a favorite late-night disco for gay men and a dusting of women, is certainly conducive to lascivious liaisons. What's more, just the thought of the Thermos Saunas, not too far away on Kerkstraat, has a way of steaming up the scene.

Of the three districts, the one that has evolved along Warmoestraat is considerably the least egalitarian. One of the main streets that borders the Red Light District, it feels a little too cut off from the rest of the city. There are a few bars that do welcome all walks of life (including straight folks), but the majority of the clubs found here are men-only, leather-heavy, and dungeon-prone.

Your surest bet at all-encompassing homo-gezelligheid is Amstel, located right off of Rembrandtplein. These coordinates make it likely you'll have to dodge some drunken Rembrandtplein tourists or their speeding taxis, but it's well worth it. Kitschy gay pubs, lively lesbian clubs, and drag bars, Amstel is a haven of pansexual hospitality.

For more information about gay life in Amsterdam, visit the gay and lesbian information kiosk Pink Point (www.pinkpoint.org) located at the Homomonument on the corner of Keizersgracht and Westermarkt; it's open daily from 10-6. For details on gay nightlife, consult the listings at www.gayamsterdam.nl and www.amsterdam4gays.com.