LGBTQI+ clubbing and nightlife in Amsterdam

Club NYX / Exit café

Right in the middle of Amsterdam’s ‘gay’ street, you will find Club NYX and Exit café. Both are incredibly popular with the younger crowds and the ideal spots for newcomers to Amsterdam's queer nightlife. With several dance floors (even the toilets have a DJ), Club NYX programs pop, house, hip hop, RnB, and your favorite 90’s classics. Arrive early to avoid long queues. Alternatively, embrace the Apres Chique vibes at Exit Café, where you can sing along to all your favorite guilty pleasures till late at night.

Club Raum

Queer Techno club night SPIELRAUM finally found its own home with CLUB RAUM. Close to Sloterdijk Station, the new club will take over an old industrial building from the 60’s. Expect DJs who play at the forefront of electronic music, an incredible sound system, and a diverse queer crowd. The club strives for inclusivity and will have a clear code of conduct to make sure their guests can feel safe and free.

*keep an eye on socials for the opening date

Club Church

THE club in Amsterdam where dancing and cruising come together. Whether you want to dance in your underwear at the (Z)onderbroek parties or just have a few drinks and check out the darkroom downstairs. Club Church is open most nights for (trans) men only, but all genders and sexualities are welcome during ‘Blue’ on Thursday. Check out the program before you go, and know that this is a sex-positive space, so be respectful and maybe learn a new thing or two.

Recurring events

Is Burning

The popular music-focused LGBTQ+ night Is Burning takes place at changing venues across Amsterdam. You will find a like-minded younger crowd sweating to the beat of the drumkits in dimly lit spaces. With a mix of techno, electro, and a passion for underground house music, Is Burning is an essential part of the queer scene in Amsterdam.

Bear Necessity

The party for bears and everyone who loves them. Bear Necessity at Club Panama is a no-nonsense event where rugby shorts and a leather harness paired with a hairy chest (or back) are the perfect outfit for the sweaty dance floor. Expect a friendly, slightly older crowd of men who want to dance, kiss, and give great bear hugs. Paired with uplifting beats, hairy gogo dancers, and Panama’s impressive sound system, this is the perfect night out to celebrate solidarity and body positivity.

Janey

Although catered to girls who love girls, Janey welcomes everybody. That is why no one will be asked about their gender at the door. Janey brings the girls to the urban yard with her all-female lineup, playing top-chart bangers. You can find Janey with bigger parties but also smaller events in Amsterdam and a growing number of other cities in the Netherlands.

Sweetie Darling

Do you want to PARTY? Then Sweetie Darling will make you jump up and down with joy. With a great international line-up of drag and other queer performers, this party is for everyone who has no desire to fit in. Celebrate all colours, shapes, and sizes during a night of love and happiness.

Kalinichta

Balkan beats, but make it queer! Kalinichta at Noordelicht on the NDSM Wharf brings you all those Eurovision songs you normally won’t hear on the dance floor but do make your hips move. This steamy, open-minded party takes you on a musical journey with the best uptempo beats from the Balkan to the Middle East. Kalinichta is for everyone but is mostly visited by gorgeous bearded men.

Rapido/Funhouse

Two truly old-school gay circuit parties from Rapido Events that make the muscle queens go thwoorp! Held at Paradiso or the Gashouder in Westerpark, both venues are a great fit for all the lasers, CO2 cannons, and go-go dancers. Need a small break from all the dancing, then cool down in one of the lounge areas where they serve fresh fruit or popsicles.

De Trut

A true icon in the Amsterdam queer scene is the non-commercial disco De Trut (the bitch) located in Oud-West. Many local LGBT’ers will tell you the stories of standing early in line on Sunday evening with their friends, waiting for the door to open. Back then, only flikkers and potten (Dutch slang for ‘fags’ and ‘dikes’) were allowed inside, but over the years, De Trut has become a safe space for a broader audience. The bar is being run by volunteers, ensuring that all profits go to the Trut Fonds, which benefits multiple LGBTQ+ projects around the world.

Honorable mentions

Other clubs:
Eagle Amsterdam

Other events:
Backdoor, Bops, Femmazing, Invasion, F*cking Pop Queers, Superball, Wasteland

Welcoming spaces:
Sexyland World, Paradiso, OT301

As a born and raised queer local, Daan knows all the ins and outs of LGBTQI+ life in Amsterdam. Follow him and his boyfriend Karl on their gay travel blog coupleofmen.com for queer-welcoming destinations around the world.