amsterdam/nl

Halloween 2011 at Club Rapido, photo by Julian Zidan


events planner
Jorge Arbert & Yerpun Castro, performers/teachers
Tango Queer in Amsterdam

Each Monday, 8-9:30pm, Tango Queer workshops at Amstelveenseweg 7 near Vondelpark with support from the Embassy of Argentina. Dance with same-sex partner in free and welcoming environment -- suitable for all levels (no partner needed). After workshop the dance floor is open until midnight for tango dance practice.

www.danstango.com
Safe Sex Parties
NCADAM | Horsemen & Knights

1st & 3rd Sundays each month, 3-7pm, 18+ safe sex men-only naked events, free condoms/ lube, at Club Fuxx, Warmoesstraat 96. NCADAM 1st Sundays, 3-7pm (doors open 3-4pm), naked dress code, snacks served at around 5pm, secure clothing check, 8 euro cover. Horsemen & Knights, every 3rd Sunday, participate as much or little as you want, voyeurs welcome; 7" or 18cm+ free entry.

Pin 27Club Fuxxx

www.horsemen.nl
Queer Underground Dance Party
Spellbound

April 6, 2013, 11pm, at OOCCII, Amstelveenseweg 134 - just behind Vondelpark. Queer underground dance party, Techo, House, ACID, Wave, Disco, Electro & Dub. DJ line-up includes: Martijn, Trashling, Kaseta. VJs Alex et Jeremy, X-mchine. Upstairs: Toon & Dortart. More details online:

Pin 16OCCII - Onafhankelijk Cultural Centrum in IT

www.spellbound-amsterdam.nl
A Tribute to Love
F*cking Pop Queers

April 13, 2013, 11pm-late at Jimmy Woo. Monthly parties to "challenge the monocultures of this straight, gay and lesbian world ...we use parties and nightlife as medium and transmitter to show our ideals of a creative, open-minded society." DJs Davy V, Yuki and Dig. Hosted by Jaggy. Dress: Love & Passion.

Pin 13Jimmy Woo

www.ultrasexi.com
Dance, sparkle, shine & flirt!
Danserette

April 20, 2013, 10pm-4am, at Akhnaton, Nieuwezijds Kolk 25. High-spirited gay dance party, classic hits, up-to-the-minute tunes: ABBA & Madonna, to Kylie & Rihanna. Old & new disco hits, danceable kitsch & pop music.

Pin 4Akhnaton

www.danserette.nl
House music dances
Bear Necessity Parties

April 27, 2013, 11pm-5am, The Future Kings Day Edition, at Odeon. Guest DJ Binomio (ES), resident DJ Rado (NL); Matahari lasers. Gold Room DJ BravoGuy (NL). Book and confirm on Facebook for a night to remember.... Upcoming BN dates: June 1, Aug 3, Oct 5, Nov 20.

Pin 17Odeon Theater

www.bear-necessity.eu
On three dance-floors
Rapido Parties

April 28, 2013 at Paradiso, Weteringschans 6, 3pm-2am The Queensday Edition with DJs Ralphi Rosario (USA), Abel (USA), Dikky Vendetta (B), RW (NL), & Jack Chang (UK) , basement hosted by Destynee, music by Bloom. Live performance & special show TBA. Upcoming dates: August 4, 2013, the Pride edition; November 3, 2013, the Halloween edition.

Pin 19Paradiso

www.clubrapido.com
Back in Amsterdam
The Cockring Party

April 28, 2013, at Eagle Amsterdam, every last Sunday of the month. "Hot music, awesome atmosphere, horny guys, great music and light effects." Dress code: cockring & shoes only. Cover charge: 7 euros. (Not to be confused with the old Cockring Club nearby on Warmoesstraat, which is now Club Fuxxx).

Pin 38Eagle

www.cockringparty.com
The Queen's birthday - wear orange
Koninginnedag

April 30 each year. The parties begin the night before, streets fill with people, canals bob with boats and circuit parties throb. Open-air concerts are generally free. The Reguliersdwarsstraat and Amstel areas and the Roze Wester Festival at Westerkerk draw big gay crowds.

www.koninginnedagamsterdam.nl/queensday.html
The first!
Amsterdam Fetish Pride

May 9-12, 2013. Big fetish party main event, parties at bars and clubs around town, including the Friday Recon Full Festish Party at the Eagle Amsterdam, and the Saturday XXX Leather dance and fetish party at Club Fuxxx, featuring the election of Mr Leather Amsterdam. See website for details and updates.

Pin 27Club Fuxxx

www.amsterdamfetishpride.com
Saturday nights at Club Church
Furball Parties | Kilt Edition

May 18, 2013, The UNDERBEAR Edition 10pm-5am at Church, Kerkstraat 52: The Amsterdam Hairy Men Dance Party. Upcoming dates: July 20th, September 21st and November 16, 2013. See details & previous party photos on their website.

Pin 12Club Church

www.furball.nl
Cruiserz Amsterdam
Wild & Wet - The Foam Edition

May 18, 2013, 9pm-6am at Steamworks, Roermondsplein 32, Arnhem. Gay and bi men, safe sex night at sauna Steamworks Arnhem, a short train ride from Amsterdam. Dress code: towel, swimwear, underwear or nude. Afterparty at Cafe Colours, 3-6am, Jansplein 47, Arnhem. Next dates: July 13th, and Sept 14th.

www.cruiserz.nl
Fetish Sex Party
Fickstutenmarkt

June 1, 2013, 5pm-midnight at Club Fuxx. Strict rules private male-only sex event; willing "mares" offer themselves to succession of "stallions" never seeing their faces. Participants decide their role, but cannot change once the party starts. See website for details. Next Amsterdam date: November 16, 2013.

Pin 27Club Fuxxx

www.clubfuxxx.com/monday.php
Don't miss the FunHouse in Amsterdam
FunHouse

June 15, 2013, 11pm-5am, at WesterUnie, Klönneplein 4-6. Enter the FunHouse world of uplifting beats, crazy entertainment, mind-blowing special effects and an energetic crowd. After Party 5-10am at Akhnaton.

Upcoming dates: Sept 15, Dec 21. See website + facebook

Pin 25WesterUnie

www.clubrapido.com
The Rapido Experience
FunHouse After Party

June 16, 2013, 5-10am, venue and DJs TBA. FunHouse After. Tickets available at FunHouse WesterUnie event (at the entrance), or at the Akhnaton door. Next Funhouse After Party dates: September 22, December 22. See photos of previous events online at:

www.clubrapido.com
Leather, rubber, skin or uniform only
XXXL LOS (Lust on Sunday)

June 23 2013, 4-8pm at Club Church, Kerkstraat 52. Men-only dance, sex, play & fetish party, DJs Hansom & Mo'Cum. Strict dress code: leather, rubber, skinhead, naked, jeans, army and uniform. See photos from previous events on the website. Upcoming dates: September 22nd, and December 22nd.

Pin 12Club Church

www.xxxleather.eu
Turn up with a wig and a frock
Drag Queen Olympics

August 2, 2013, annual Pride events at the Homomonument include: 100m High Heel Sprint, a tug-of-war, and the Handbag Toss. The cream of the drag sporting world will attend. Hair, poise, make-up, nails and accessories are just as important as strength and technical ability.

Pin 1Homomonument

www.dragqueenolympics.nl
Book early!
Amsterdam Gay Pride 2013

August 2-4, 2013 major events - festival, partying in bars and streets: the world's only gay Canal Parade, Saturday on the Prinsengracht and Amstel river; Drag Queen Olympics; Netherbears in the Street; plus sports, concerts and cultural events of all kinds beginning on July 27, 2013.

www.amsterdamgaypride.nl
New Stars and Familiar Faces
Amsterdam to Barcelona Cruise

September 5-15, 2013. Sail the Celebrity Constellation between two of Europe’s most famous gay capitals, Amsterdam and Barcelona. Destinations: Bordeaux, France; Bilboa, La Coruña, Cadiz, Spain; overnights in Lisbon Portugal and Ibiza Spain. Spectacular cities, stunning natural beauty, superb beaches --a breathtaking adventure of culture and excitement.

www.atlantisevents.com/Amsterdam-to-Barcelona-Cruise/25#overview
Getting bigger each year!
Get Ruff - Leatherpride Amsterdam 2013

November 1-4, 2013 annual weekend events line-up at leather bars + main RUFF! party Saturday night. Other special nights to be scheduled at bars around town. See more info + previous year's photos at website:

www.get-ruff.com
Pink Film Days 17th Edition
Roze Filmdagen 2014

Mid-March, 2014, annual Amsterdam Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, at three halls of Het Ketelhuis, at the Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek. Around 120 high quality, broad and diverse selection of movies (features, documentaries and many shorts) scheduled this year from around the world. For more info and venues see website:

Pin 2Ketel Huis

www.rozefilmdagen.nl/english
top experiences
Cruising is legal (but don't litter):

Despite all the backrooms, and the naked and sex parties going on in Amsterdam, many guys still prefer a ramble in the brambles. In 2008 the government of Amsterdam decriminalized sexual activity in the Netherlands' most popular and famous park, the Vondelpark. Sex should be after dark however, and police may eject couples making too much noise. Leaving condoms or other trash is also forbidden. "Why prohibit something that hardly bothers other people and that, to the contrary, gives much pleasure to a particular group?" asked Paul van Grieken, an Amsterdam official. What more can one say?

Some of the most popular parks include:

Nieuwe Meer (Anton Schleperspad) busy day and night, but can be muddy, and sometimes attracts gay bashers.
Vondelpark (near Leidseplein) popular day and night, particularly at the rose garden in the center of the park.
Oosterpark (by Tropenmuseum) cruisy after sunset, and popular with local Arab guys. This park gets very dark at night.
De Oeverlanden (De Oeverlanden Schleperspad 1) on the south side, with shade trees and a lakefront, is one of Holland's most popular parks and busiest cruising haunts. The city has posted signs pointing out the areas where cruising takes place and men have sex with other men.

Decisions: the plate or the cheese?:

A trip to either of two small cities nearby are an easy day trip from Amsterdam. Delft, a small medieval town with canal-lined streets, quirky shops and several museums, is mostly famous for its blue-and-white ceramics. Gouda, best known for the cheese, is also notable for the St Janskerk Church with amazing stained-glass windows.

Getting active: gay sports:

The many gay sports activities in Amsterdam include:
Gay Swim Amsterdam, and the Lowlanders Gay Rugby Club.
Het Marnix (Het Marnix, Marnixplein 1) has mixed male nude swimming on Tuesdays 9-10:45pm (exercise and eye candy, not sex).
Splash Fitnessclub (Looiersgracht 26- 30) is a gay-popular gym for flexing more than just the love muscle.

Getting out: bikes, barges, & trains:

There are canal boat hires and bicycle tours with hundreds of miles of well-marked paths to get you around or beyond the big city. Cycletours combines the two for journeys all over the Netherlands and Belgium. Trains are the most convenient and inexpensive way to get to neighboring towns. Netherlands Rail NS has online travel and fare information and you can buy your tickets there and save time spent waiting in line.

Keukenhof Gardens:

Near Leiden, this is the world's largest garden; open to the public for only a limited time each year. Come between March 24  and  May 20, 2011 to see the spectacular floral displays planted in endless varieties, with beautiful works of art in among the plants. To buy bulbs for your own garden, come the weekend of October 15-17, 2010, when Keukenhof Gardens hosts the National Flower Bulb Market, with dozens of growers from all over the country offering their products.

Museums & Galleries:

The most important museums of Amsterdam are on the Museumplein with its grass and gravel open spaces for summer festivals and outdoor concerts. 

The Rijksmuseum has the largest, most important collection of classical Dutch art, including works by Rembrandt and his students. Rembrandt's masterpiece De Nachtwacht is here, along with paintings by artists such as Van der Helst, Vermeer, Frans Hals, Ferdinand Bol, Albert Cuyp, Jacob van Ruisdael and Paulus Potter. Also Delft  ceramics and giant 17th century dollhouses. Recent renovations now completed in 2013.

Van Gogh, who lived here for a short time, is well represented in the city's most visited museum The Van Gogh Museum contains  his most famous paintings, the Aardappeleters (The Potato Eaters) and Zonnebloemen (Sunflowers).

The Stedelijk Museum has Amsterdam's largest collection of modern art including works by artists such as Piet Mondriaan, Karel Appel, and Kazimir Malevich.

Other museums throughout the city: the Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum), the Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House), the Rembrandthuis (Rembrandt House), the Tropenmuseum (Museum of the Tropics), the Amsterdam Museum (former Amsterdams Historisch Museum), Hermitage Amsterdam (associated with the Hermitage of Saint Petersburg), and the Joods Historisch Museum (Jewish Historical Museum). The Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder was a 17th-century home containing completely hidden Catholic church, built at the time of the Reformation.

Seat of government, or no pants at all!:

Den Haag, the capital of the Netherlands, has its own classy ambience and a magnificent Japanese Garden in Clingendael Park, is open to the public twice a year, in the spring and autumn. Admission is free. Contiune on the same train line out of Central Station Amsterdam, to reach Zandvoort, a beach resort town with a clothing-optional section to the south of the central strand. There are cafe refreshments at decent prices in both areas, so no need to carry much.

Social & fraternal groups:

Dikke Maatjes or Big & Bear Netherlands has a full slate of events every month, about town, at the beach and around Europe. Associated with Netherbears who meet at the Queens Head each 2nd and 4th Sunday evenings, and the Bear Necessity dances at Odeon. Meets with Bear Arabia in Beirut, Lebanon for periodic joint events.

Ladz NL throws the only men-only gay dance party for lads, scallies, skaters, gabbers, sneaker- and sports-wear boys of the Netherlands. Check their website for events, plus music samples and photos from previous events.

Club Church is the venue for many difference groups to throw regular parties including: the Twinks Sex Orgie; Perverts; Sex on Sunday; Oil Party; Slave Auction, and many other naked, fisting, golden shower, spanking, fetish and s&m parties throughout their average week, plus special events weekends such as XXL Leather.

Leather Pride Amsterdam weekend each November includes Get Rough!, the Party, for men into leather, fetish, rubber and uniforms. Prior to the weekend there are lots of parties, workshops and activities taking place throughout the city. Walk into the Mister B or RoB leather stores on Warmoesstraat anytime of year, to quickly find your way into the local scene.


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