For us, Queer Market Amsterdam is one of those places where World Pride 2026 truly becomes visible in everyday life. This is where queer entrepreneurs, artists, and LGBTQ+ travelers come together, and your Pink Dollar stays within the community instead of disappearing into the anonymous mainstream. We took a look around the Queer Market Store and at the XXL Queer Market in Amsterdam-Noord. For Couple of Men, we also spoke with founder Sebastian and artist Maria about the importance of the Queer Market and queer shopping for the LGBTQ+ community in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.
– paid collaboration with WorldPride Amsterdam & Booking.com –
Queer Market Store: Queer Shopping in Amsterdam Center-West
We set off on our bikes toward Center-West through Westerpark and follow Haarlemmerdijk. Many of you already know the street from our Amsterdam Gay Travel Guide: small boutiques, cafés, specialty shops, all lined up next to each other. At the western end, our eyes are drawn every time to one storefront: Queer Market Amsterdam.
The logo is large and visible, and the rainbow flag at the entrance leaves no doubt about who is welcome here. A few queer little items are already placed in front of the shop. Inside, we found a mix of art, design, clothing, jewelry, and gifts from queer and local makers. For us, this address is a solid tip for anyone coming to WorldPride in Amsterdam and looking for a queer shop where they can make conscious purchases: Queer Market Amsterdam on Haarlemmerdijk, about a ten-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal station.
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Sebastian: A stage for small queer makers
At the shop, we meet Sebastian, the founder of Queer Market in Amsterdam. He tells us how he moved from Utrecht to Amsterdam a few years ago and ended up right away on a street full of Pride flags. For him, it was a very concrete “welcome to your new queer home.” The idea for Queer Market grew out of that experience and his work with small entrepreneurs.
Sebastian describes the store and the brand as a platform for small queer makers. He says, on the one hand, he wanted to “give small makers a voice,” and on the other, to create a place where people can intentionally “shop queer.” He deliberately looks for a diverse mix of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs from Amsterdam, from small towns and villages in the Netherlands, but also from international scenes such as Berlin or Copenhagen. Furthermore, he says big brands interest him less. The focus is on people who otherwise could not afford shelf space or a retail space of their own.
What you’ll find at the Queer Market Store
As we move through the shop, it becomes clear that Queer Market Amsterdam is more than “just” a store. We see the shop concept more as a tightly curated space that shows many facets of modern, queer culture. A few examples Sebastian highlighted during our visit:
Queer Beer: Sebastian’s own label. The beer names play with queer wordplay, such as IPGay. The Pride Pale Ale was bottled especially for World Pride in Amsterdam. Part of the proceeds from each can goes to queer organizations.
Gay Sauna Board Game and “The Dick Sits”: board games that approach queer topics with humor. If reading our Gay Cruising Guide made you curious about playful formats beyond darkrooms and bars, this is a good place to start. Tip: A group of our friends is organizing regularly occurring Gayming nights in Amsterdam.
Wei’s Chili: A small jar of chili oil that won us over right away. It is an example of how food becomes part of the queer economy. A local product that does not come from a big food brand but directly from a person turning their own taste into a label.
Between art prints, ceramics, cards, and clothing, we keep noticing jewelry made by Substance Lab. The heavy chains and carabiners already tell a story right there in the shop. That is precisely where our next visit begins.
Substance Lab: Jewelry for bodies that move
From Haarlemmerdijk, we cycle through Westerpark toward Houthavens. We recommend this route to anyone who is keen to discover Amsterdam actively and away from the classic routes. Our destination is the studio of Maria, the person behind Substance Lab.
Maria tells us how she found her way into the local queer community through the rave scene and nail art. During the pandemic, she started getting rave-style nails done. Customers became friends. She was invited to parties and found her queer family there. For her, being part of the LGBTQ+ community in Amsterdam means everything: it is her environment, where she can be one hundred percent herself, without filters.
Her jewelry is clearly rooted in rave culture. Maria says her pieces are for “bodies that move and don’t apologize.” You can see that in the designs: heavy chains, industrial shapes, and carabiners as central elements. This look is not accidental but picks up codes from the queer scene and from BDSM contexts. At the same time, the pieces are gender-neutral and work for anyone who wants to make a visible statement on the dance floor or in everyday life.
Maria’s favorite place to dance in Amsterdam is Club Raum. We have already mentioned the venue in our nightlife content. Maria describes the club as a venue with a strong queer community where she feels safe. If you are reading our Pride articles and looking for the “most inclusive place to dance,” this and Maria’s perspective make for a very clear recommendation.
What we found especially powerful was her personal brand story. She left her corporate job to build Substance Lab. She says this jewelry is the first project she fully believes in. The brand is her “self without filters,” and for the first time in a long while, she feels genuinely excited when she thinks about her future. This kind of decision is what defines queer entrepreneur scenes: consciously stepping outside the norm to build something of your own and be proud of it.
Queer Market XXL at NDSM Wharf
The next day, we meet Maria again. But this time not in the studio, but outside on the NDSM grounds in Amsterdam-Noord. Several times a year, Sebastian organizes the Queer Market XXL there. For World Pride Amsterdam, this edition was meant to be even bigger and more visible.
The NDSM Wharf is an exciting place anyway: old industrial halls, street art, views of the IJ River, and Pllek as a restaurant and beach spot. Right in the middle stands the XXL market with more than 50 stalls. We stroll across the grounds and see people trying on Maria’s jewelry, small labels presenting their products, DJs, workshops, and food stands.
Maria tells us that events like Queer Market XXL have a much greater meaning than just being part of a Pride program. They allow queer artists to show their work, meet their customers directly, and make money from their art. Making art is demanding. Spaces like these help LGBTQ+ people stay visible without having to bend their identity to fit in.
For us, everything comes together here: Sebastian’s curated store, Maria’s rave-inspired jewelry, and the open market on the grounds of the NDSM Wharf. What begins on a shop shelf takes shape here in the direct exchange between queer makers and visitors. Pride in Amsterdam may be the reason for this article, but the structure exists beyond the event itself. That is exactly what we want to highlight.
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Queer spaces in Amsterdam: beyond WorldPride
In our articles about Pride, from the Homomonument and Pink Point to the Canal Parade and the history of the Pride movement, we talked a lot about symbolism, history, and big events. Queer Market Amsterdam and Queer Market XXL show us a different perspective: queer spaces that exist in everyday life and invite us not only to celebrate but also to support our community consciously.
Maria emphasizes the communication in the independent queer business scene: she describes it as friendly, empathetic, and attentive. For her, it is the best working environment she has experienced so far. And while Sebastian talks about visibility and about platforms for small entrepreneurs, they stand together for a kind of economy in which queer people are not just a target group but active participants who can also make an impact.
Amsterdam has many places like these: bars, clubs, shops, and community spaces. Queer Market Amsterdam and the XXL market are, for us, examples that show well how this scene works. If you want to dive into the history and the milestones, we still recommend our articles about the Homomonument, Pink Point, and the beginnings of Pride history. But if you want to see how queer life shows itself today in shopping, design, and small labels, a visit to Queer Market should be on your list.
Keep your pink dollars in the community
To wrap it up, we would like to get a bit more specific. If you are coming to World Pride in Amsterdam or planning a queer city trip, there are many ways to support local and queer businesses. Queer Market Amsterdam and Queer Market XXL are two places where your pink dollars stay directly in the community:
- Start by visiting the Queer Market Store on Haarlemmerdijk. Take your time browsing the shelves, speaking with Sebastian and the people in the store, and choosing a piece that reminds you of your trip.
- Check whether Queer Market XXL is taking place at the NDSM Wharf during your trip. Take the free ferry to Noord, stroll along the water, and spend a few hours there among stalls, DJs, and food. By watching our reel, you will get a good impression of the atmosphere on site.
- Add a few more queer-friendly places to your Queer Market visit that we also mention in the reel and in the interview: FAC Shop, Male & Female, Pamela for drinks, Club Raum for dancing.
Travel tips around Queer Market, Westerpark, and NDSM
If you want to plan your visit to Queer Market Amsterdam, it is worth mapping out Center-West, Westerpark, Houthavens, and the NDSM Wharf as a little Pride route. Here, you can shop queer, walk by the water, go out, and stay in Travel Proud hotels that explicitly welcome LGBTQ+ travelers.
Getting there and route
- Start in the city center or right at the main station and walk to Haarlemmerdijk. The Queer Market Store is just a few minutes away on foot and is ideal for starting your day with queer shopping in Amsterdam.
- From there, you can cycle through Westerpark toward Houthavens. The route takes you through green spaces and past modern architecture with views of the water.
- To get to the NDSM Wharf, take the free ferry from Central Station to Amsterdam-Noord. From the ferry landing, you can walk across the site in just a few minutes to Queer Market XXL and Pllek.
Travel Proud hotels in Westerpark, Houthavens, and Amsterdam-Noord
If you want to spend your Pink Dollar consciously not only on shopping but also on your stay, Travel Proud hotels are a good choice. They specifically train their teams to welcome LGBTQ+ guests and offer a reliable base for your Pride trip. Three areas stand out in this campaign:
SWEETS – Willemsbrug (Westerpark)
If you want to stay near the Queer Market Store and Westerpark, SWEETS – Willemsbrug fits this route well. This small Bridge House is located on Nassauplein, overlooking the canal, between the city center, Jordaan, and Westerpark. From there, you can reach Haarlemmerdijk and Queer Market Amsterdam in just a few minutes by bike or on foot. Go to SWEETS – Willemsbrug via our affiliate link >
Houthavens: Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens
In Houthavens, Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens is a good choice. The hotel is located right on the water in a new harbor district and is already part of your campaign, including as a Travel Proud partner for World Pride Amsterdam. From there, you can quickly reach Westerpark and Center-West while having the modern harbor architecture right outside your door. Go to Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens via our affiliate link >
Botel (NDSM / Amsterdam Noord)
If you want to stay for Queer Market XXL and other events at NDSM Wharf, Botel is a practical base. This boat hotel is located directly on the NDSM quay and is listed as a Proud Certified Property on Booking.com. You’ll have the market, Pllek, street art, and the free ferry to the city center right on your doorstep. Go to Botel via our affiliate link >
More blog articles for planning your trip to Amsterdam:
- Homomonument & Pink Point: LGBTQ+ Pride and queer history in Amsterdam
- Amsterdam bear community: bear bars, clubs & events for gay bears
- Guide to the gay (nudist) beach in Amsterdam – Zandvoort
- Amsterdam cruising guide 2026 for gay men: saunas, bars, and outdoor spots
- How KLM, as a sponsor of WorldPride 2026 in Amsterdam, supports Pride, diversity, and LGBTQ+ travelers
TravelProud mit Couple of Men & Booking.com
TravelProud von Booking.com: „Wir filtern Orte, keine Menschen.“
Als queere Reisende, die regelmäßig selbst die „TravelProud“-Unterkünfte von Booking.com nutzen, freuen wir uns darüber, deren LGBTQ+-inklusive Reiseerlebnisse auf der ganzen Welt zu unterstützen. Mehr als die Hälfte der LGBTQ+-Reisenden hat auf Reisen schon Diskriminierung erlebt. Das muss sich ändern.
Deshalb hat Booking.com das „TravelProud“-Programm ins Leben gerufen: um Unterkünften zu helfen, die besonderen Herausforderungen zu verstehen, denen queere Reisende gegenüberstehen, und um einen sicheren und einladenden Aufenthalt zu gewährleisten, überall auf der Welt.
More Amsterdam tips for your Pride trip
If you’d like to keep planning your Pride trip, feel free to check out our other articles: our overview of gay couple travel in the Netherlands, our Unity World Pride article, Canal Pride tips, the Amsterdam Gay Travel Guide, and our articles on the bear community, cruising, and the gay beach in Zandvoort.
Together with Queer Market Amsterdam, it creates a picture of a city where Pride is not just an event, but part of everyday life.
Would you like to see more of our LGBTQ+ trips, queer outdoor experiences, Pride trips, or other destinations in the mountains?
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Note: This article was made possible in close collaboration with WorldPride Amsterdam and Booking.com . Even so, our opinions and texts are, as always, based on our very own personal experiences. We took all photos and videos in this article ourselves.