With a pool table, pinball, and a fireplace. The oldest and friendliest gay bar in A’dam, because it combines good music Spijker Bar, in Kerkstraat, is considered Sex shops and some other gay bars are located in and around the Red Light District, mostly on Warmoesstraat-just follow the rainbow flags. Amsterdam’s Homomonument is a unique site to see-and an important historical marker for LGBTQ travelers Where to Eat, Drink and PartyĪmsterdam’s gay nightlife is pretty well focused on a single street in the city center, Reguliersdwarsstraat, where some of the city’s more popular bars are located. Every August, during Amsterdam Gay Pride, the Homomonument also becomes a place of party, together with the many canals that are used for the parade, with sexy boys, pop music, feathers and decorated boats. Indeed, many locals and tourists bring flowers to show solidarity with LGBTQ issues. Inside the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam where you’ll find works by the Dutch masters, most notably RembrandtĪlso inspired by the WWII conflict, the Homomonument remembers the LGBTQ people who have lost their lives in campaigns of hate and bigotry. For those interested to learn about the saddest and cruelest moments of European history, the Anne Frank museum is a place for reflection about peace, hate, and war politics. Of the many small and big museums and galleries, some are definitely a must: Of course, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rembrandt House are in the top list of every Amsterdam travel guide, and the Rijksmuseum is in my opinion the perfect introduction to the Dutch art tradition.
Join the perpetual flow of bikes by renting one and driving it around the many canals and parks, and both the Vondelpark and the Frankendael Park offer great scenic views, whether for contemplation or to share them in your Instagram. Take a walk through the Jordaan and De Pijp neighborhoods to discover cool antique shops and other quirky buildings In the East, the Oost Amsterdam neighborhood is a new thriving district of the city-a great place to discover quality restaurants and many budget hotels, too. The De Pijp neigborhood, and the traditional Albert Cuyp market, invite the visitor to try new exotic foods and to wander around the many old-school pubs and hip restaurants.Īnd in the north of Amsterdam, the Noord neighborhood is especially hip and cool-the heart of hipster Amsterdam. Another option is to wander around Westergasfabriek, a former industrial complex now dedicated to art galleries, shops and cafes. Walk around the Jordaan neighborhood, for example, to discover trendy shops, street art and great coffees (especially for foodies, try the apple tart). Indeed, much of the city’s life occurs outdoors. Amsterdam has hundreds of canals throughout the city But beyond this hedonistic atmosphere, Amsterdam is surprisingly diverse and a place where there is always something to do. THE WEEKEND GUIDE TO Amsterdam Things to DoĪmsterdam is particularly famous for its Red Light District with promises of sexual pleasure or for its coffee shops with magic brownies and hallucinogen mushrooms. Immortalized in many paintings by the Dutch masters, A’dam – how locals call it – Amsterdam is both classic and modern, a city of culture and some might say of decadence, and the home of some of the friendliest people in the world. There are many scenes like this in Amsterdam, and the city is without a doubt one of the best of Europe’s many LGBTQ-friendly destinations. Slim, colorful houses, with dozens of peoples on bikes or sitting in a café, contemplating the soft movement of the water in the canals.