Amsterdam is world famous for its gay scene, and the Dutch tolerance allows it to flourish. In 1998, Amsterdam hosted the Gay Games and the city paid millions of guilders to help sponsor and promote the games. Thousands of people participated in the athletic events and tens of thousands more came for the party! Although it wasn’t successful financially it certainly had a positive impact on the gay community. Warmoesstraat in the Red Light District, Reguliersdwarstraat, and Kerkstraat are popular gay scenes with bars, clubs and cinemas. Straight Dutch often mingle with the gay crowd, since they like a good party too!
The Dutch have just passed the most liberal Gay Marriage Law in the world! Dutch gays now have full marriage rights and benefits in Holland, including , adoption, divorce, pensions and inheritance. Unfortunately, few other countries will recognize a Gay Dutch marriage and these laws do not apply to tourists, as you must be a citizen or official resident to qualify. It’s just another way the Dutch are showing the world “what should be” when tolerance and freedom are actually allowed and not just bogus claims of so called “democratic societies”. The Dutch even allow gays in the military.
For an in-depth study of the history of Amsterdam’s Gay Bars, check out: Amsterdam Gay Bar Culture.