How to make gay friends in Amsterdam
To make gay friends in Amsterdam, start with a weekly LGBTQ+ club like Frontrunners Amsterdam or Tijgertje, both of which offer a free trial session, and check COC Amsterdam for what else is on.
Amsterdam has been at ease with gay life for longer than almost anywhere, and it shows. Being openly gay here is ordinary, and English is widely spoken, so it's an easy city to arrive in. Getting from friendly to close can take longer, as it does in most big cities. Making friends here takes what it takes anywhere: the same faces, more than once.
Find out what's on
Pink Point is the city's LGBTQI+ information kiosk, run by volunteers on the Westermarkt next to the Homomonument. Opening hours vary between listings, so check before you go. When it's open, it's stocked with flyers from local groups and organisations. Ten minutes there will tell you more about what's running this month than an hour online. The volunteers are used to people asking where to start, so ask.
Join the thing that meets every week
Frontrunners Amsterdam, also called Rainbow Athletics, is an LGBTQ+ running club that trains on Wednesday and Friday evenings. Its coaches work with beginners as well as experienced runners, and newcomers are invited to a trial session. If running isn't it, Tijgertje has been an LGBTQ+ sports club since 1982, with self-defence, fitness, yoga, swimming and basketball, and you can book a free trial there too. If you'd rather sing, the Amsterdam Gay Men's Chorus is a singing and dance chorus for queer people of all genders. It rehearses in English, takes new members after an open rehearsal, usually in September, and has a waiting list at the moment. Give whatever you choose about six weeks before you decide. Almost nobody feels part of something in week one.
Use the bars for what they're good at
The bars around the Reguliersdwarsstraat and the Zeedijk are good for meeting people. Diaries fill up fast here, so the person who proposes an actual date and time for a coffee tends to be the one who gets seen again.
There's a group for exactly where you're at
If you've come to the Netherlands as a refugee, COC Amsterdam runs Cocktail, a monthly social or information evening for LGBTQI+ refugees, plus a buddy project. If you're over 50, its Seniors Café meets on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month. And Tijgertje runs a Tuesday fitness class for over-65s. And if you plan to stay, a Dutch class is worth it for more than the language. Everyone will still switch to English for you, but understanding the jokes at the table after training is what moves you from guest to regular.
Where the community clusters
The gay bars are mostly in the centre, around the Reguliersdwarsstraat and the old streets near the Zeedijk. Plenty of people live further out, though, in neighbourhoods like Oost and De Pijp, which feel more local.
Where to start
| Group | What and when | Cost | How to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontrunners Amsterdam / Rainbow Athletics | Coached running, Wednesdays 7:15pm (AV'23 track) and Fridays 7pm (Olympic Stadium) | €200 a year, or €110 for about 12 sessions | Free trial lesson, then the sign-up form. There's an English page |
| Tijgertje | Self-defence, fitness, yoga, swim fitness, basketball. Seniors fitness for over-65s, Tuesdays 5pm | Seniors €220 a season. Other fees are sent after you sign up | Free trial lesson. Sign up on its English page |
| Amsterdam Gay Men's Chorus | Singing and dance chorus for queer people of all genders, Wednesdays 7:30pm, in English | Fee every six months. Ask if cost is a barrier | Open rehearsal, usually in September, then a short placement audition. Waiting list now |
| COC Seniors Café | Social afternoon for LGBTQI+ people 50+, first Wednesday, 1–5pm, Stadhouderskade 89 | Not stated | Email senioren@cocamsterdam.nl first |
| COC Cocktail | Monthly social or information evening for LGBTQI+ refugees, plus a buddy project | Not stated | Email cocktailevents@cocamsterdam.nl |
None of this is fast, and in a city this sociable it can feel slower than it should. Give it longer than feels reasonable. If you've just moved, how to make friends in a new city as an adult is worth reading alongside this, and if you're new to meeting people through apps, meeting an online friend safely covers staying safe. And if you want a head start, you can make a free friend card here and tell us who you're hoping to meet. Finish it on Among Our People and you'll see who else is looking for friends near you. ✦