Amsterdam Gay Scene. The gay scene in Amsterdam is no longer the largest in Europe but is still without dough the most friendly gay city in the world and properly one of the only cities where men can walk openly hand in hand as well as kiss in public without being called names or worse.
Since the introduction of the Euro back in 2002 the gay scene has had a hard time of it, gone are the 7 night a week gay clubs and bars ., nowadays it's more like most other cities a 2.5 night a week scene Friday and Saturday being the most busy nights while Thursday and Sunday being less busy and Monday to Wednesday very little happening.
Amsterdam has four main gay areas which include cafes, bars, coffeeshops, saunas and more.
Several of the bars have dark rooms which you can visit if your brave. There are new places opening all the time so your sure to find something new each time you visit wonderful Amsterdam
Amsterdam has four main gay areas:
Amstel -- Kerkstraat -- Reguliersdwarsstraat -- Warmoesstraat
Amstel
A few gay places and gay friendly places in and around the Amstel
LE MONDE (Mixed)
Rembrandtplein 6 (6269922)
Daily 08.00-01.00
Popular gay cafe right on the square with huge terrace during the summer months.
Good food and drinks.
MONTMARTRE DE PARIS (Male)
Halvemaansteeg 17 (020-6207622)
Mon-Thu, Sun 16.00-01.00, Fri, Sat 16.00-02.00
Very loud Dutch gay bar. Happy Hour 18.00-19.00.
Full of Dutch gay males.
LE SHAKO (Mixed)
'S Gravelandseveer 2 (020-624 0209)
Daily 20.00-03.00 or 04.00
Super friendly late-opening gay bar just across the Amstel.
LELLEBEL (All kinds of everyone)
Utrechtsestraat 4 (020-4275139
Daily 20.00-03.00
A drag café with different things happening different nights, karaoke on Tuesdays and at weekends live shows.
YOU II (Females with a few males for good measure)
Amstel 178 (020 -421 0900)
This is the only women-only club in Amsterdam.
REGULIERSDWARSSTRAAT
Trendy gay area with bars, clubs, cafes and also Amsterdam's only gay coffeeshop.
During the summer months this street is closed to cars and all the cafes, bars and clubs create lovely terraces which are ideal for men spotting.
ARC (Mixed)
Reguliersdwarsstraat 44 (020-6897070)
Mon-Thu 16.00-01.00, Fri, 16.00-03.00, Sat 12.00-03.00, Sun 12.00-01.00
The newest hippest bar on the street. Very popular and always packed at 
weekends.
CAFÉ APRIL (Mixed but mostly male)
Reguliersdwarsstraat 37 (020-6259572)
Mon-Thu, Sun 14.00-01.00, Fri, Sat, 14.00-03.00
Popular late-opening café/bar with international papers to read if your bored in the front area and check out the back bar while your there as the bar revolves making meeting new friends very easy. 2nd time around you can use the chat up line "Haven't I seen you once before". This bar makes cruising easy..
DOWNTOWN (Mixed)
Reguliersdwarsstraat 31 (6229958)
Daily 10.00-20.00
Café with yummy food at ok prices. Very popular so can get packed.
EXIT (Mixed mostly male)
Reguliersdwarsstraat 42 (6258788)
Fri / Sat 23.00- 5.00
3 floors of club playing different music on each. large dance floor and also has a dark room.
Euro 5 entrance, coat Euro 1.50 and 50 cents every time you go to the loo.
Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights are the best. Saturday is usually really packed.
IT (Mixed) (November 2005--Currently still closed for renovations and may not reopen)
Amstelstraat 24 (April 2006 - IT club has been knocked down and will not be reopening)
Fri, Sat 23.00-06.00
Amsterdam's most famous gay club. Various DJs play hard house and more.
Saturday is gay only.- CLOSED DOWN
THE OTHERSIDE (Mixed)
Reguliersdwarsstraat 6
Daily 11.00-01.00
The only gay coffeeshop in town. Friendly staff. Good smoke menu, prerolled joints, space cake and special tea. A nice place to sit about in and watch the boys come and go. If you get a window seat your in a great spot for men watching. And you can play with yourself at the same time under the table.
SOHO (Mixed)
Reguliersdwarsstraat 36 (330 4400)
Mon-Thu 20.00-03.00, Fri, Sat 20.00-04.00, Sun 16.00-03.00
Two floors-, English style pub. happy Hour 12.00 midnight two drinks for the price of one.
Euro 50 cents to use the toilets. Some real nice boys & Men to gaze upon.
Grab one of the lovely leather sofas or large armchairs which are upstairs down the back, great to sit back and watch the boys go by..
WARMOESTRAAT
This area looks worse than it really is but keep an eye out for pick pockets and the like.
Most of the city's leather bars are here or close by like the Web & Cuckoo's Nest.
ARGOS (M)
Warmoesstraat 95 (020-6226595)
Mon-Thu, Sun 22.00-03.00, Fri, Sat 22.00-04.00
The oldest and possibly most famous leather bar in Amsterdam. Sexy, cruisey and heavy. S.O.S. (Sex on Sundays) party is held here every last Sunday of the month from 15.00-19.00
CASA MARIA (Mixed)
Warmoesstraat 60 (020-6276848)
Mon-Thu, Sun 12.00-01.00, Fri, Sat 12.00-02.00
It's big windows make this the perfect spot for people-watching down this street.
COCKRING (Male)
Warmoesstraat 96 (020-6239604)
Mon-Thu, Sun 23.00-04.00, Fri, Sat 23.00-05.00
Cruisey disco, popular with a wide range of gay men of all ages. Free entry in more ways then one. Live sex shows at weekends.
CUCKOO'S NEST (Male)
Nieuwezijds Kolk 6 (020-6271752)
Mon-Thu, Sun 13.00-01.00, Fri, Sat 13.00-03.00
Large popular dark room. Small dirty sort of place. Did not venture down to dark room but my friend did and came out walking funny and with a big smile on his face.
DIRTY DICKS (Male)
Warmosstraat 86
Fri, Sat 24.00-05.00
A late night leather bar. This place really lives up to it's name.
THE EAGLE (Male)
Warmoesstraat 90
Mon-Thu, Sun 22.00-04.00, Fri, Sat 22.00-05.00
Well established leather bar. Ring buzzer to be let in.
The GETTO (Mixed)
Warmoesstraat 51 (020-4215151)
Tue 19.00-01.00 Wed-Sat 16.00-01.00, Sun 13.00-24.00
Mixed bar full of lesbians and gays (many non Dutch) happily get along.
Sunday evening there is tarot readings. Happy Hours 17.00-19.00.
STABLEMASTER (M)
Warmoesstraat 23 (6250148)
Bar and Hotel famous for it's jack off / wanking / masturbation parties in the downstairs bar.held regularly.
THE QUEEN'S HEAD (MIX-M))
Zeedijk 20 (4202475)
Mon-Fri 17.00-01.00, Sat, Sun 16.00-03.00
A kitsch little bar along the Zeedijk (off the Nieuwmarkt and near the Warmoesstraat).
Check out the collection of male dolls in the window. Can't miss them.
The WEB (M)
St Jacobsstraat 6 (6236758)
Mon-Thu, Sun 14.00-01.00, Fri 14.00-02.00, Sat 14.00-03.00
Popular friendly bar with a darkroom upstairs. Shows porn videos and has a small roof terrace.
KERKSTRAAT
A great street with a collection of all sorts of places and gay venues.
Only a short walk from Leidseplein.
SPIJKER (Mixed)
Kerkstraat 4 (020-6205919)
Mon-Thu, Sun 13.00-01.00, Fri, Sat 13.00-03.00
Welcoming to women although mainly a guys place. Porn videos are screened as well as a selection of cartoons, Pool table and a darkroom. Happy Hour daily 17.00-19.00.
GETTO (Mixed)
See Warmoesstraat
HUYSCHKAEMER (MIX)
Utrechtsestraat 137 (020-6270575)
Mon-Thu, Sun 15.30-01.00, Fri, Sat 15.30-02.00 (Kitchen shuts 23.00)
LA STRADA (Mixed)
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 93 (020-6250276)
Daily 16.00-01.00 (Kitchen shuts 22.00)
Good food, lovely staff, and pretty popular with lesbians.
